Table 1

Summary and comparison of the study outcomes for all six diseases

HIVMalariaTuberculosisSalmonellosisEbolaBuruli
Period of Publication EvaluatedAugust 1, 2014 to July 31, 2016August 1, 2014 to July 31, 2016August 1, 2013 to July 31, 2016August 1, 1980 to July 31, 2016August 1, 1980 to July 31, 2016August 1, 1980 to July 31, 2016
Number of articles included after final review3863252301347730
Number of African countries from which studies were done2533262897
Proportion of studies with African Researchers0.48 (0.46–0.49)0.55 (0.54–0.57)0.56 (0.54–0.58)0.64 (0.61–0.67)0.25 (0.23–0.27)0.45 (0.39–0.51)
Proportion of studies with first authors from African Institutions0.51 (0.46–0.56)0.55 (0.49–0.6)0.37 (0.31–0.44)0.71 (0.62–0.78)0.29 (0.19–0.4)0.33 (0.18–0.53)
Proportion of studies with last authors from African Institutions0.36 (0.31–0.41)0.37 (0.31–0.42)0.53 (0.46–0.59)0.64 (0.55–0.72)0.23 (0.15–0.35)0.17 (0.06–0.35)
Proportion of studies that acknowledged any funding source(s)0.8 (0.76–0.84)0.88 (0.84–0.91)0.71 (0.65–0.77)0.48 (0.39–0.57)0.64 (0.52–0.74)0.87 (0.68–0.96)
Proportion of studies that acknowledged funding from African Institutions0.05 (0.03–0.08)0.08 (0.06–0.12)0.09 (0.06–0.13)0.01 (0–0.06)0.13 (0.07–0.23)0.07 (0.01–0.24)
Proportion of studies that acknowledged funding when first author is from African Institutions0.74 (0.67–0.8)0.86 (0.8–0.91)0.73 (0.62–0.82)0.44 (0.34–0.55)0.5 (0.31–0.69)0.8 (0.44–0.96)
Proportion of studies that acknowledged funding when last author is from African Institutions0.74 (0.66–0.81)0.79 (0.7–0.86)0.65 (0.56–0.74)0.45 (0.35–0.56)0.39 (0.18–0.64)0.6 (0.17–0.93)
Proportion of studies with laboratory tests done in Africa0.74 (0.7–0.79)0.79 (0.74–0.84)0.9 (0.85–0.93)0.68 (0.59–0.76)0.78 (0.67–0.86)0.83 (0.65–0.94)
  • The total number of articles for each disease is analysed by number of articles, place of research and lab test, first and last authorship, and funding availability.

  • The general characteristics of the articles included in the analysis based on the six diseases with the mean of the sample estimate and confidence interval at a 95% confidence level represented in brackets.

  • AIn, African Institutions; AR, African Researchers.