RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cancer research across Africa: a comparative bibliometric analysis
JF BMJ Global Health
JO BMJ Global Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e009849
DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009849
VO 7
IS 11
A1 Mutebi, Miriam
A1 Lewison, Grant
A1 Aggarwal, Ajay
A1 Alatise, Olusegun Isaac
A1 Booth, Christopher
A1 Cira, Miska
A1 Grover, Surbhi
A1 Ginsburg, Ophira
A1 Gralow, Julie
A1 Gueye, Serine
A1 Kithaka, Benda
A1 Kingham, T Peter
A1 Kochbati, Lofti
A1 Moodley, Jennifer
A1 Mohammed, Sulma Ibrahim
A1 Mutombo, Alex
A1 Ndlovu, Ntokozo
A1 Ntizimira, Christian
A1 Parham, Groesbeck Preer
A1 Walter, Fiona
A1 Parkes, Jeannette
A1 Shamely, Delva
A1 Hammad, Nazik
A1 Seeley, Janet
A1 Torode, Julie
A1 Sullivan, Richard
A1 Vanderpuye, Verna
YR 2022
UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/7/11/e009849.abstract
AB Introduction Research is a critical pillar in national cancer control planning. However, there is a dearth of evidence for countries to implement affordable strategies. The WHO and various Commissions have recommended developing stakeholder-based needs assessments based on objective data to generate evidence to inform national and regional prioritisation of cancer research needs and goals.Methodology Bibliometric algorithms (macros) were developed and validated to assess cancer research outputs of all 54 African countries over a 12-year period (2009–2020). Subanalysis included collaboration patterns, site and domain-specific focus of research and understanding authorship dynamics by both position and sex. Detailed subanalysis was performed to understand multiple impact metrics and context relative outputs in comparison with the disease burden as well as the application of a funding thesaurus to determine funding resources.Results African countries in total published 23 679 cancer research papers over the 12-year period (2009–2020) with the fractional African contribution totalling 16 201 papers and the remaining 7478 from authors from out with the continent. The total number of papers increased rapidly with time, with an annual growth rate of 15%. The 49 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries together published just 5281 papers, of which South Africa’s contribution was 2206 (42% of the SSA total, 14% of all Africa) and Nigeria’s contribution was 997 (19% of the SSA total, 4% of all Africa). Cancer research accounted for 7.9% of all African biomedical research outputs (African research in infectious diseases was 5.1 times than that of cancer research). Research outputs that are proportionally low relative to their burden across Africa are paediatric, cervical, oesophageal and prostate cancer. African research mirrored that of Western countries in terms of its focus on discovery science and pharmaceutical research. The percentages of female researchers in Africa were comparable with those elsewhere, but only in North African and some Anglophone countries.Conclusions There is an imbalance in relevant local research generation on the continent and cancer control efforts. The recommendations articulated in our five-point plan arising from these data are broadly focused on structural changes, for example, overt inclusion of research into national cancer control planning and financial, for example, for countries to spend 10% of a notional 1% gross domestic expenditure on research and development on cancer.Data are available upon reasonable request.