Bibliometric analysis of global Lassa fever research (1970–2017): a 47 – year study

Abstract Background Lassa fever has been a public health concern in the West African sub-region where it is endemic and a latent threat to the world at large. We investigated the trend in Lassa fever research using bibliometric approach. Methods We used the SCOPUS database employing “Lassa fever” as...

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Main Authors: Henshaw Uchechi Okoroiwu, Francisco López-Muñoz, F. Javier Povedano-Montero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-12-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3526-6
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author Henshaw Uchechi Okoroiwu
Francisco López-Muñoz
F. Javier Povedano-Montero
author_facet Henshaw Uchechi Okoroiwu
Francisco López-Muñoz
F. Javier Povedano-Montero
author_sort Henshaw Uchechi Okoroiwu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Lassa fever has been a public health concern in the West African sub-region where it is endemic and a latent threat to the world at large. We investigated the trend in Lassa fever research using bibliometric approach. Methods We used the SCOPUS database employing “Lassa fever” as search descriptor. The most common bibliometric indicators were applied for the selected publications. Results The number of scientific research articles retrieved for Lassa fever research from 1970 to 2017 was 1101. The growth of publications was more linear (r = 0.67) than exponential (r = 0.53). The duplication time of the scientific articles was 9.19 years. Small number of authors were responsible for bulk of the article production (transience index of 78.89%). The collaboration index was 4.59 per paper. The Bradford core consisted of 19 journals in which Journal of Virology was at the top (4.6%). Majority of the output were from USA government agencies. United States was the most productive country. Joseph B. McCormick was the most productive author, while New England Journal of Medicine published the two most cited articles. Conclusion The growth of scientific Literature on Lassa fever was of linear pattern with high transient authors indicating low productivity and non-specialized authors from other related areas publishing sporadically. This study provides a helpful reference for medical virologists, epidemiologist, policy decision makers, academics and Lassa fever researchers.
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spelling doaj.art-833c664676e046528107dc8380d534782022-12-22T00:03:12ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342018-12-0118111110.1186/s12879-018-3526-6Bibliometric analysis of global Lassa fever research (1970–2017): a 47 – year studyHenshaw Uchechi Okoroiwu0Francisco López-Muñoz1F. Javier Povedano-Montero2Haematology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of CalabarFaculty of Health Sciences, University Camilo José CelaFaculty of Health Sciences, University Camilo José CelaAbstract Background Lassa fever has been a public health concern in the West African sub-region where it is endemic and a latent threat to the world at large. We investigated the trend in Lassa fever research using bibliometric approach. Methods We used the SCOPUS database employing “Lassa fever” as search descriptor. The most common bibliometric indicators were applied for the selected publications. Results The number of scientific research articles retrieved for Lassa fever research from 1970 to 2017 was 1101. The growth of publications was more linear (r = 0.67) than exponential (r = 0.53). The duplication time of the scientific articles was 9.19 years. Small number of authors were responsible for bulk of the article production (transience index of 78.89%). The collaboration index was 4.59 per paper. The Bradford core consisted of 19 journals in which Journal of Virology was at the top (4.6%). Majority of the output were from USA government agencies. United States was the most productive country. Joseph B. McCormick was the most productive author, while New England Journal of Medicine published the two most cited articles. Conclusion The growth of scientific Literature on Lassa fever was of linear pattern with high transient authors indicating low productivity and non-specialized authors from other related areas publishing sporadically. This study provides a helpful reference for medical virologists, epidemiologist, policy decision makers, academics and Lassa fever researchers.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3526-6LassaLassa feverLassa researchBibliometric analysis
spellingShingle Henshaw Uchechi Okoroiwu
Francisco López-Muñoz
F. Javier Povedano-Montero
Bibliometric analysis of global Lassa fever research (1970–2017): a 47 – year study
BMC Infectious Diseases
Lassa
Lassa fever
Lassa research
Bibliometric analysis
title Bibliometric analysis of global Lassa fever research (1970–2017): a 47 – year study
title_full Bibliometric analysis of global Lassa fever research (1970–2017): a 47 – year study
title_fullStr Bibliometric analysis of global Lassa fever research (1970–2017): a 47 – year study
title_full_unstemmed Bibliometric analysis of global Lassa fever research (1970–2017): a 47 – year study
title_short Bibliometric analysis of global Lassa fever research (1970–2017): a 47 – year study
title_sort bibliometric analysis of global lassa fever research 1970 2017 a 47 year study
topic Lassa
Lassa fever
Lassa research
Bibliometric analysis
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3526-6
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