Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Dec 31;4(12):e0004019.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004019. eCollection 2024.

Prevalence and patterns of substance use in West Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Godwin Omokhagbo Emmanuel  1 , Folahanmi Tomiwa Akinsolu  2   3 , Olunike Rebecca Abodunrin  2   3   4 , Oliver Chukwujekwu Ezechi  2   3
Affiliations

Prevalence and patterns of substance use in West Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Godwin Omokhagbo Emmanuel et al. PLOS Glob Public Health. .

Abstract

Introduction: Substance use is a growing public health concern in West Africa, contributing to significant morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic challenges. Despite the increasing prevalence, comprehensive data on the patterns and factors influencing substance use in the region remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesize existing research on the prevalence and patterns of substance use in West Africa, providing critical insights for developing targeted interventions and policies.

Methodology: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses [PRISMA] guidelines. A systematic search was performed across four major databases [PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Scopus] from January 2000 to June 2024. A total of 22 studies involving 43,145 participants met the inclusion criteria. Multiple reviewers performed data extraction and quality assessment independently, and a random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of various substances. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using a leave-one-out approach to evaluate the influence of individual studies on the overall prevalence.

Results: The meta-analysis revealed the pooled prevalence rates of alcohol [44%], cannabis [6%], tramadol [30%], codeine [11%], and kolanut [39%]. The analysis identified high heterogeneity across studies [I2 = 98-99%], reflecting diverse substance use patterns and influencing factors, including peer influence, availability of substances, socioeconomic conditions, and demographic characteristics. Sensitivity analysis indicated that no single study significantly impacted the overall prevalence estimates, confirming the robustness of the findings.

Conclusion: Substance use in West Africa is widespread and influenced by complex factors. The high prevalence of alcohol and tramadol use highlights the urgent need for targeted public health interventions, including stricter regulatory frameworks, community-based prevention programs, and comprehensive public education campaigns. This study provides a critical foundation for developing effective strategies to mitigate the escalating substance use crisis in the region.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Study Flowchart showing the flow of studies from retrieval to the final included studies.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Pooled prevalence of alcohol use in West Africa.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Pooled prevalence of cannabis use in West Africa.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Pooled prevalence of cigarette use in West Africa.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Pooled prevalence of cocaine use in West Africa.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Pooled prevalence of tramadol use in West Africa.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Pooled prevalence of codeine use in West Africa.
Fig 8
Fig 8. Pooled prevalence of heroin use in West Africa.
Fig 9
Fig 9. Pooled prevalence of kolanut use in West Africa.
Fig 10
Fig 10. Pooled prevalence of marijuana use in West Africa.
Fig 11
Fig 11. Pooled prevalence of sedatives use in West Africa.
Fig 12
Fig 12. Pooled prevalence of tobacco use in West Africa.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet Lond Engl. 2018. Nov 10;392(10159):1789–858. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32279-7 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. United Nations: Office on Drugs and Crime (Internet). (cited 2024 Aug 11). World Drug Report 2021. Available from: //www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/wdr2021.html
    1. Onaolapo OJ, Olofinnade AT, Ojo FO, Adeleye O, Falade J, Onaolapo AY. Substance use and substance use disorders in Africa: An epidemiological approach to the review of existing literature. World J Psychiatry. 2022. Oct 19;12(10):1268–86. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i10.1268 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kabore A, Afriyie-Gyawu E, Awuah J, Hansen A, Walker A, Hester M, et al.. Social ecological factors affecting substance abuse in Ghana (West Africa) using photovoice. Pan Afr Med J. 2019. Dec 30;34:214. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2019.34.214.12851 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Leikin JB. Substance-related disorders in adults. Dis—Mon DM. 2007. Jun;53(6):313–35. doi: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2007.04.001 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources