Challenges in Postoperative Pain Management at Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi

Adequate postoperative pain management is a fundamental component of quality surgical care, yet evidence suggests persistent deficiencies in analgesia provision at Nigerian public hospitals. This study identifies the challenges in postoperative pain management at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, North West Nigeria, in 2023. A cross-sectional descriptive study enrolled 160 postoperative patients within the first 48 hours following surgery. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively. Structured interviews explored patient satisfaction, analgesic prescribing patterns, drug availability, and barriers to adequate pain control. Findings indicate that 47% of patients reported moderate to severe pain at 24 hours postoperatively, with inadequate analgesia prescribed in 39% of cases. Drug shortages, particularly for opioid analgesics, and clinician concerns about addiction contributed to undertreatment. Only 21% of patients received multimodal analgesia. Female patients and those with lower educational attainment reported greater unmet pain needs. The study recommends the adoption of a standardized postoperative analgesia protocol at FMC Birnin Kebbi, targeted training on multimodal pain management for residents and nurses, and improved supply chain systems for essential analgesics in North West Nigeria. Keywords: postoperative pain, analgesia, pain management, Birnin Kebbi, multimodal