Indigenous Antimicrobial Compounds in Urban Lagos: A Community Approach to Waterborne Diseases Treatment

Urban Lagos in Nigeria is grappling with waterborne diseases due to contaminated drinking water sources. Indigenous antimicrobial compounds have been used by urban slum dwellers as a traditional remedy for these ailments, highlighting the need for a systematic review and evaluation of their efficacy. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify studies on the efficacy of indigenous antimicrobial compounds for waterborne disease treatment by urban slum populations in Lagos. Quantitative data from these studies were synthesized using a meta-analysis approach to estimate overall treatment success rates. Community participation varied significantly, with approximately 70% of participants reporting consistent use of indigenous remedies. Treatment success rates ranged between 52% and 84%, depending on the specific antimicrobial compound used. Indigenous antimicrobial compounds offer a viable alternative for treating waterborne diseases in urban Lagos slums, particularly among communities with limited access to modern healthcare facilities. However, more rigorous clinical trials are needed to validate these findings. Further research should include randomized controlled studies and community engagement initiatives to enhance the acceptance and effectiveness of indigenous remedies as part of a comprehensive health strategy. Treatment effect was estimated with logit(pᵢ)=β₀+β^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.