Preterm Birth Research in Southeast Asia and its Association with Socioeconomic Determinants and Burden of Disease: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess research productivity on preterm birth (PTB) in Southeast Asian (SEA) countries and its correlation with socioeconomic characteristics and burden of disease.

Methods: A systematic review of preterm birth publications by SEA authors indexed in Scopus, PubMed, ClinicalTrials. gov, and Cochrane was done. Case reports, cohorts, control trials, reviews and cost analysis studies done by SEA researches involving pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and complications of preterm birth was included in the study while published letters to editors were excluded. The correlation of bibliometric indices, namely Scopus citations, and PlumX metrics indices (citations, usage, captures, mentions, and social media), with socioeconomic status and burden of preterm birth in SEA countries were analyzed by computing for the correlation coefficient (r) and p-value at an alpha of 0.05.

Results: Thailand had the highest number of publications and the highest count across all bibliometric indices among all countries in SEA. The percent gross domestic product (GDP) per capita allotted for research and development (R & D) had direct correlation with publications and captures while crude birth rates had indirect correlation with publications, citations, and captures. Neonatal mortality had indirect correlation with publications and captures.

Conclusion: Support for research and development is essential to increase research productivity in SEA, which in turn may help in finding solutions to decrease the rate of preterm birth in the region.