A scoping review of public health challenges and systemic barriers facing unmet health and social care needs of older populations in Nigeria

Nigeria’s aging population is increasing steadily, yet health and social care systems remain in-adequately prepared to address the complex needs of older adults. Unmet health and social care needs contribute to poor health outcomes, functional decline, reduced quality of life, and grow-ing inequities among older populations. This scoping review mapped and synthesized existing evidence on unmet health and social care needs among older adults in Nigeria, with particular attention to public health challenges and systemic barriers affecting access to care. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR framework. Electronic searches were performed across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Wiley Online Library, Frontiers, and Discovery databases for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Data were extracted and synthesized using thematic analysis. A total of 43 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 4 major themes emerged: demographic and epidemiological transitions, unmet health needs, unmet social care needs, and system-ic/public health barriers. Older adults experienced substantial unmet needs related to chronic disease management, mental health services, oral healthcare, preventive care, and assistance with activities of daily living. Key barriers included poverty, high out-of-pocket healthcare costs, inadequate geriatric services, workforce shortages, weak social protection systems, geo-graphical inequities, and policy gaps. Social isolation, caregiving burdens, and limited commu-nity-based support further compounded vulnerabilities. Older adults in Nigeria face significant unmet health and social care needs driven by intersect-ing socioeconomic, health system, and policy challenges. Strengthening geriatric care, expand-ing social protection, integrating health and social services, and improving evidence-based poli-cy development are essential to promote healthy and dignified aging in Nigeria.