Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The successful implementation of the 2030 sustainable
development Agenda in Africa requires active participation from all sectors,
including the dental research sector. The aim of this study was to review
dental research published by authors affiliated with institutions in African
countries from 2016 to 2023, to map papers related to the sustainable
development goals (SDGs), and to identify areas of emphasis and gaps in
SDGs-related papers on oral health in Africa.
METHODS: We conducted a bibliometric analysis of dental literature in Africa
(2016–2023) using Scival for performance analysis and VOSviewer for science
mapping. The papers addressing and not addressing the SDGs were compared
regarding impact, authorship metrics and key phrases. We identified the topic
clusters with the greatest number of papers. The key phrase co-occurrence
networks and the authors and countries collaboration networks were mapped.
RESULTS: There were 4,173 papers and 622 (14.9%) addressed the SDGs,
especially SDG3. SDGs papers had greater impact and were more likely to be
published in open access journals than non-SDGs papers. Egypt, Nigeria and
South Africa had the greatest number of papers and citations. Four of the top
ten authors were females. Most of the top ten journals were open access and
only three were in quartile 1 (Q1) journals. Springer and Elsevier were the top
publishers. The top research clusters addressed rehabilitative care including
implants, endodontics, ceramics and zirconia. SDGs papers, however,
addressed oral hygiene in caries prevention and to control systemic diseases.
Collaboration networks were affected by geographic location and languages.
Dental research in Africa is concentrated in three countries and mainly
addresses rehabilitative care. SDGs papers had an impact above the global
average and addressed prevention and non-communicable diseases.
CONCLUSIONS: There is minimal yet increasing contribution of African countries to the evidence on oral health and the SDGs. The focus is on a limited number of
SDGs, and publications are from very few countries in Africa. There is a need to
focus oral health-related SDGs research on addressing local problems.
