Integrating infodemiology and infodemics management to address antimicrobial resistance and vaccine hesitancy challenges in Nigeria/Africa

This narrative review highlights how infodemiology and infodemic management can be leveraged to address the intertwined public health challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and vaccine hesitancy (VH) in Nigeria and across Africa, where limited health literacy and weak health systems allow misinformation to thrive. The reviewed literature shows that widespread misconceptions—such as antibiotics being effective against viral infections—and culturally rooted mistrust in vaccines, amplified by social media and the COVID-19 pandemic, strongly shape harmful health behaviours. Infodemiology offers digital tools to monitor misinformation in real time, identify geographic and thematic hotspots, and support targeted, evidence-based interventions. The review concludes that embedding infodemiology into AMR and VH strategies—alongside investments in digital health infrastructure, supportive policies, partnerships with social media platforms, and engagement of trusted community figures—can counter misinformation at its source, build public trust, and ultimately reduce AMR while improving vaccine uptake within a One Health framework.