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

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.