The burden of drug abuse: Predictors of prescription drug abuse among women in Northern Nigeria. A systematic review

Introduction: The North-Eastern, North-Western, and North-Central cities in Nigeria comprise of 19 states, each with its own governor. With over 400 ethnicities in the country, Northern Nigeria is home to many ethnic groups nearly half of whom are the Hausa-Fulani whose main religion is Islam. Practices in Northern Nigeria has favoured polygamy, early child marriage, and a lack of desire for western education while encouraging the strictly Islamic studies especially among the Hausa/Fulanis. Northern Nigeria is also known for its gender inequality and poverty. Prescription drug abuse has become more common in recent years even among women in Northern Nigeria.

Objectives: This study's objectives include finding out the predicting factors to entry into prescription drug use among women in Northern Nigeria. Highlighting the causes of growing numbers in prescription drug abuse as well as recommending solutions in form of preventative measures.

Methods: Eight articles were selected after being critically appraised for this study following a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. For this mixed method Systematic Review (SR), a thematic analysis was used for the results and findings.

Results: This research shows that some of the factors in the rise of prescription drug abuse among women in Northern Nigeria include: unemployment, insurgency due to the activities of violent extremist organization—Boko Haram—in the Northern region, as well as family dynamics which involves family history of drug misuse, early marriage, and a lack of education.

Conclusion: Understanding the factors influencing women into drug use in Northern Nigeria can help end the cycle. This study suggests recommendations to prompt a decline in the rising numbers of prescription drug use among women in Northern Nigeria.