The MAP study aims to investigate perceptions of medication adherence of women of reproductive age with chronic diseases prior to conception and during pregnancy. Medication non-adherence is defined as taking less than 80% of prescribed doses. Non-adherence to medications during pregnancy is a major health challenge. Women with any chronic disease during pregnancy have a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. National guidelines for chronic diseases in pregnancy unanimously recommend optimal control of disease, usually through medication use before and during pregnancy to optimise pregnancy outcomes. The most recent UK MBRRACE report has highlighted the increase in number of deaths in women with chronic diseases in pregnancy, some directly caused by lack of active treatment of their disease due to concerns about the risks of medication use in pregnancy.

A systematic review undertaken by our team demonstrated the paucity of interventions to increase medication adherence in the pregnant population.  Healthcare interventions to date in the non-pregnant population have also had little effect on enhancing medication adherence. We are addressing these issues by in-depth qualitative investigation of the reasons for non-adherence to medications in our pregnant and pre-conception population. This work will inform development of an intervention to increase medication adherence in these two groups of women who are recommended to take medications during pregnancy.