Prescribing Patterns and Rational Drug Use at General Practice Clinics in Adamawa State

Background: Irrational prescribing is a pervasive challenge in Nigerian primary care settings, contributing to antimicrobial resistance, treatment failure, and increased healthcare costs. This study examines prescribing patterns and adherence to rational drug use principles at general practice clinics in Adamawa State, North East geopolitical zone. Methods: A cross-sectional prescription audit was conducted on 500 prescriptions collected from five general practice clinics using systematic sampling. WHO prescribing indicators were used to evaluate prescribing quality. Data were analysed descriptively in Microsoft Excel. Results: Average number of drugs per prescription exceeded the WHO recommended maximum. Antibiotic prescription rates were high and frequently without documented indication. Generic prescribing rates were low. Injection use was above recommended thresholds. Essential medicines list compliance was suboptimal. Conclusion: Prescribing practice in Adamawa State general practice clinics is characterised by polypharmacy and overuse of antibiotics and injections. Family medicine practitioners should undergo structured rational prescribing training, and health facilities should implement formulary systems and regular prescription audits to promote evidence-based drug use. Keywords: prescribing patterns, rational drug use, antibiotics, Adamawa State, polypharmacy