Focus on Africa - ADHD and me
Across the globe, diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are on the rise, including in Africa. An estimated 7% of children and adolescents on the continent are living with the condition, and doctors in Nigeria and Kenya told the BBC that they have seen a notable increase in diagnoses in recent years.
This surge is partly attributed to the rapid spread of information about ADHD on social media, which has helped raise awareness. However, clinicians also caution that misinformation online is contributing to a growing trend of self-diagnosis.
So what does it really mean to live with ADHD in Africa, and what barriers exist when it comes to accessing proper medical care? We hear from 29-year-old Siham Azeroual from Morocco, who is living with both ADHD and autism.
Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Basma El Atti and Fana Negash
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Priya Sippy
Editor: Maryam Abdalla
Published on Friday, 17th April 2026.
Available Podcasts from Focus on Africa
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