Abstract
Background: In line with the international trends, most Nigerian medical schools include the Behavioural and Social Sciences(BSS) in their
curricula. The accrediting body for university education in Nigeria, The National University Commission (NUC) listed a number of special topics of
relevance to the behavioural and social science contents of medical school curricula.
Aim: To sensitize medical educators to the challenges in the translation of this NUC directives to action.
Methods: A review of published works on the integration of the BSS into medical education curricula. Information on the teaching of BSS was obtained through targetted informal discussions with at least two students and one lecturer each from various medical schools in universities across the country.
Results: The review showed differences in who teaches, the design and methods of teaching the BSS. Barriers to effective didactic teaching of BSS in Nigerian medical schools were highlighted.
Conclusion: There is a need to design empirical studies and nation-wide surveys that will further explore the issues raised concerning the effective
teaching and integration of the BSS into medical education.