RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS RESEARCH IN AFGHANISTAN: BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS WITH THE DATABASE PUBMED

Authors

  • Florian H Pilsczek Department of Medicine, Royal Rattanak Hospital, Phnom Penh

Abstract

Background: Infectious diseases research in a low-income country like Afghanistan is important. Methods: In this study an internet-based database Pubmed was used for bibliometric analysis of infectious diseases research activity. Research publications entries in PubMed were analysed according to number of publications, topic, publication type, and country of investigators. Results: Between 2002–2011, 226 (77.7%) publications with the following research topics were identified: respiratory infections 3 (1.3%); parasites 8 (3.5%); diarrhoea 10 (4.4%); tuberculosis 10 (4.4%); human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 11(4.9%); multi-drug resistant bacteria (MDR) 18(8.0%); polio 31(13.7%); leishmania 31(13.7%); malaria 46(20.4%). From 2002–2011, 11 (4.9%) publications were basic science laboratory-based research studies. Between 2002–2011, 8 (3.5%) publications from Afghan institutions were identified. Conclusion: In conclusion, the internet-based database Pubmed can be consulted to collect data for guidance of infectious diseases research activity of low-income countries. The presented data suggest that infectious diseases research inAfghanistan is limited for respiratory infections research, has few studies conducted by Afghan institutions, and limited laboratory-based research contributions.Keywords: Infectious diseases, Bibliometrics, Research, Low-income Countries, Afghanistan

References

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Foreign body in urinary bladder

Published

2015-06-20

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 2 (2015): Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad

Section

REVIEW ARTICLE

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