BACKGROUND:
Self-medication with antibiotics represents a major public health concern in Nigeria¹ ². This practice contributes to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)³, thereby threatening human, animal, and environmental health within the One Health framework⁴. Understanding its pharmacoepidemiologic characteristics is essential for the development of effective interventions.

OBJECTIVE:
To review and synthesize evidence on the prevalence, determinants, and public health implications of antibiotic self-medication in Nigeria, and to highlight strategies for control within a One Health perspective.

METHODS:
A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar, targeting studies published between 2015 and 2025. Search terms included “antibiotic self-medication,” “antimicrobial resistance,” “pharmacoepidemiology,” “Nigeria,” and “One Health.” Studies reporting on prevalence, commonly used antibiotics, behavioral and systemic determinants, and AMR outcomes were included. Articles were screened for relevance, and findings were synthesized narratively to highlight pharmacoepidemiologic patterns and their implications across human, animal, and environmental health.

RESULTS:
Antibiotic self-medication remains widespread across Nigeria, with particularly high occurrence in rural settings¹. Frequently self-administered antibiotics include ampicillin–cloxacillin combinations, amoxicillin, co-trimoxazole, metronidazole, and fluoroquinolones⁵. Limited healthcare access, financial constraints, previous treatment experiences, and weak regulatory enforcement are major drivers sustaining this practice⁶. Incomplete treatment courses, inappropriate dosing, and the use of substandard medicines are recurrent patterns contributing to the persistence and dissemination of AMR across human, veterinary, and environmental sectors⁷.

CONCLUSIONS:
The high prevalence of antibiotic self-medication in Nigeria underscores the urgent need for coordinated, multisectoral interventions. Strengthening regulatory control, improving access to quality healthcare, and promoting antimicrobial stewardship through community education are critical measures. Integrated surveillance systems linking human, animal, and environmental data are essential to support evidence-based policies under the One Health approach.