Dynamics of Psychoactive Substance Use among Pregnant Women in Nigeria

Psychoactive substances could be used for medical and non-medical reasons, but need to be used with caution in pregnancy due to their negative effects on the fetus. Globally and in Nigeria, there are limited studies conducted on the use of, and effects of psychoactive substances by pregnant women probably due to the special population required despite the wide range of psychoactive substances readily available and easily accessible by pregnant women. This study examined the dynamics of psychoactive substance use in pregnancy in Nigeria, the effects on pregnancy and neonates, and critical methods of regulation, intervention, and prevention. The study utilized a narrative review to assess the dynamics in the prevalence, use, and effects of psychoactive substances by pregnant women. The study was synthesized from several research articles assessed through electronic means. Search terms were used either individually, in series, or using truncation where necessary. Studies considered were those conducted in Nigeria and published in the English Language from January 1970 to December 2023. All of the articles fell below the 3rd position on the 8points Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine Scale (OCEMS). Overall, 11 articles were selected from a total of 1260 articles which gave rise to 0.87% selection eligibility criteria. The southwest had the highest distribution of studies on psychoactive substance use in pregnancy 6.0(54.5%), followed by south east 2.0(18.2%) and north central at 1.0(9.1%), and south at 1.0 (0.9%). Studies hierarchy fell in the fourth stage of the 6 points Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network Scale (SIGNS) for the hierarchy of study types. Psychoactive substance uses in pregnancy in Nigeria fell at the lower half of two standard benchmarks for study types. Most of the studies were predominantly carried out in the southern part of Nigeria. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses, Randomized Controlled Trials, Nonrandomized intervention studies, experiment studies, and Expert opinions on psychoactive substance use in pregnancy in Nigeria were still not available in the country.