A Bibliometric Analysis of Neurosurgical Research in Africa: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions

Inibehe Ime Okon; Marianna E. Kapsetaki; Olutayo Toriola; Bipin Chaurasia; Muhammad Kabir Musa; Arwa Salam Alabide; Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III

doi:10.1055/a-2679-5657

Journal of Neurological Surgery Part A: Central European Neurosurgery, Table of Contents

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg
DOI: 10.1055/a-2679-5657

Original Article

A Bibliometric Analysis of Neurosurgical Research in Africa: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions

Authors

Inibehe Ime Okon

¹Faculty of Science and Technology, Heritage Polytechnic, Eket, Nigeria

²Department of Research, Medical Research Circle (MedReC), Bukavu, DR, Congo
Marianna E. Kapsetaki

³Department of Neurosurgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

⁴Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece

⁵Faculty of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece
Olutayo Toriola

⁶Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland
Bipin Chaurasia

⁷Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Clinic, Birgunj, Nepal
Muhammad Kabir Musa

⁸Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Arwa Salam Alabide

⁹Department of Neurosurgery, Kufa University, Kufa, Iraq
Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III

¹⁰Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom

¹¹Center for University Research, University of Makati, Makati City, Philippines

¹²Research Office, Palompon Institute of Technology, Palompon, Leyte, Philippines

Abstract

Background

Neurosurgery in Africa has quite different realities compared to the developed countries, with emphasis on clinical procedures rather than research. The aim of this study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of neurosurgical research to understand the trends across Africa. We examined the scientific production, collaboration, and publication impact of African institutions from 2010 to 2024. This bibliometric analysis provides information on the statistical tendencies, challenges, and recommendations to improve engagement in neurosurgical research in Africa.

Methodology

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Bibliometric Analysis (PRIBA) guidelines, a PubMed search was conducted starting on October 9, 2024, where 1,431 publications affiliated with neurosurgical institutions were found. The bibliometric analysis was done using the bibliometrix package from RStudio 4.4.1 version, which involved analyzing the annual scientific production (evaluated in 5-year increments), the countries' scientific production and collaborations, and the most productive affiliations and journals in the context of neurosurgical research in Africa.

Results

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa are the major contributors to neurosurgical research in Africa, with an upward trend in publications predominantly seen in 2023. These countries' most prevalent collaborators are the United States, India, and Burundi, respectively. Regarding the journals, World Neurosurgery, Child's Nervous System, and Neurosurgical Review were the ones that mostly published Africa-affiliated neurosurgical papers.

Conclusion

Amid the challenges, research endeavors in the field of neurosurgery in Africa have yielded some progress, as seen by the upward trend in publication output and the international collaborations among researchers. Recommendations include the need to further strengthen collaborations internationally, infrastructural improvements, and quality enhancement of local research outputs to meet global standards.

Keywords

Africa - bibliometric analysis - research - neurosurgery - neurosurgical research - scientific production

Full Text

References

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