The Aetiology of Ill Health Among Urban Slum Communities in Nigeria: A Systematic Review

Background: UN-Habitatand the World Bank data show that about 50% to 65% of Nigerians to live in slums. Thus, millions of urban residents live without access to basic amenities such as clean water, sanitation, and adequate housing. While existing studies have reported the impact of slum environment on specific diseases, there is a need to review the causes in a single study to provide a comprehensive understanding of current issues in this regard. Methods: This study utilized the PRISMA protocol to carry out a systematic review. Research publications on the subject were sourced from 4 electronic databases (Africa-Wide Information, Cochrane Library, Global Health, and Pub Med). 172 relevant articles were retrieved and screened based on the inclusion criteria, and 22 articles published between January 2019 and September 2024 was included in the final review. Result: The review found that ill health conditions were linked to high population density, poor sanitation and waste management, lack of basic amenities such as clean water, high rate of poverty, poor education, and drug abuse. Conclusions: These findings reiterate the need for appropriate authorities to design and implement effective intervention strategies that will reduce ill health challenges of the slum dwellers in Nigeria.