Bibliometric Analysis of Publications on Neglected Tropical Diseases in Nigeria Using Data from Dimensions Database

Abstract

Background: Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are global public health problem and pose a significant burden on public health in Nigeria, necessitating research efforts to combat these diseases. This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of publications on NTDs in Nigeria. Methods: Data was collected from Dimensions database on January 14, 2025, using the search term: (("Neglected Tropical Diseases" OR "Neglected Tropical Disease" OR NTDs) AND (Nigeria OR Nigerian OR Nigerians)). The search yielded 299 Publications (comprising data from January 1st, 2008 till the search date) and after manual cleaning and removal of duplicates, 242 publications remained. Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer software were used in data analysis for descriptive analysis and bibliometric mapping respectively. Results: The majority of publications (91.3%) were articles. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases emerged as the most productive source, with SNIP of 1.670 and SJR of 1.260. The year 2023 witnessed the highest productivity, with 42 publications. Racheal Thomson and Dean Laura were the most productive authors, each contributing 10 publications. At the institutional level, the Federal Ministry of Health, a Nigerian federal research institution, topped the list with 21 publications. Nigeria dominated the country-wise distribution, accounting for 61.57% of the total publications. Bibliometric mapping revealed co-authorship and co-citation patterns, highlighting clusters, links, and total link strength. Notably, Dean Laura and Racheal Thomson were the most collaborative authors, while the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria, and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute were the most collaborative institutions. Furthermore, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, and China emerged as the most collaborating countries. Conclusions: This study revealed the trends, patterns, and collaborations in research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria, answering the question of how NTD research has evolved in the country. The findings highlight the growing research output, international collaborations, and institutional commitments, which can inform research priorities, funding decisions, and capacity-building initiatives. By understanding the research landscape of NTDs in Nigeria, policymakers, researchers, and healthcare professionals can develop targeted strategies to address the burden of NTDs in the country.