Nurses’ Knowledge of Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto

Background: Pharmacovigilance and timely adverse drug reaction reporting are essential safety mechanisms in healthcare systems. Inadequate nurse awareness can result in underreporting and preventable patient harm. Aim: This study assessed nurses' knowledge of pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction reporting at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, North West Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design involved 95 registered nurses selected through stratified random sampling. A researcher-developed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied using SPSS version 26. Results: Only 39% of respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge of pharmacovigilance concepts, and 72% had never submitted an adverse drug reaction report to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre. Knowledge was significantly associated with educational qualification and years of clinical experience. Common barriers included lack of reporting forms, absence of institutional guidelines, and poor awareness of the reporting system. Conclusion: Nurse knowledge of pharmacovigilance is critically low in this setting. Findings support the urgent need for pharmacovigilance training, establishment of hospital-level reporting systems, and regular engagement with the National Pharmacovigilance Centre. Keywords: pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reactions, nursing, Sokoto, drug safety.