Journal of International Research in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

As Nigeria’s population continues to age, widowhood among elderly women is becoming increasingly common with serious implications for public health and social policy. Due to the feminization of aging and the high rate of spousal loss among older women, this narrative review examines how widowhood affects mental health and social isolation within Nigeria’s sociocultural landscape. Drawing on literature from 2000 to 2025, including peer-reviewed studies, policy documents, and grey literature sourced from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, AJOL, and Google Scholar, the review synthesizes key findings using a thematic approach. The analysis reveals that widowhood contributes significantly to psychological distress, including grief, depression, and anxiety, while also deepening social isolation through stigma, cultural exclusion, and the weakening of traditional family support systems. It explores major contributing factors such as harmful widowhood rites, gender-based poverty, and the decline of intergenerational caregiving alongside protective elements like religious faith and grassroots support networks. The review highlights critical gaps in Nigeria’s health and social welfare systems, particularly the absence of widow-sensitive mental health services and formal social protection programs. Concluding with actionable recommendations, the paper calls for culturally grounded, gender-sensitive policy reforms and community-based interventions. By positioning widowhood as a key social determinant of health, the review advocates for a more inclusive and equitable approach to aging across sub-Saharan Africa.