ArticleHealth research policy and systems2021
Measuring health science research and development in Africa: mapping the available data.
Article in Health research policy and systems, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Neonatal intracranial pathologies on ultrasound imaging in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Pediatric research · 2025Pooled it
- Characteristics of longitudinal maternal health studies in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic mapping of literature between 2012 and 2022.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2025Pooled it
- Unleashing potential: assessing Africa's readiness for the data science revolution to impact health.Nature communications · 2026Review
- Research needs and engagement of rehabilitation professionals practising in Africa.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Article
- Exploring the Anthelmintic, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Potential ofJournal of parasitology research · 2026Article
- A decade of transformative leadership in the WHO African Region (2015-2024): progress, lingering challenges, and a call to action to define a strong public health agenda.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Pediatric interventional radiology in Ethiopia: current status, challenges, and roadmap to establishment.Pediatric radiology · 2025Review
- The driving forces of research ethics in academia: insights from students based on the theory of planned behavior.BMC medical ethics · 2025Article
- Overcoming Vaccine Inequities and Research Gaps in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities Identified During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2025Article
- Strengthening research capacity in Cameroon: qualitative insights on the impact of mentorship, training and funding on receiving seed grants.BMJ public health · 2025Article
- A compound analysis of medical device clinical trials registered in Africa on clinicaltrials.gov.Trials · 2024Review
- Harnessing Bacteriophages to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Infections in Africa: A Comprehensive Review.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Harnessing the potential of African youth for transforming health research in Africa.Globalization and health · 2024Article
- Articulating the ultimate objectives of research capacity strengthening programmes: Why this is important and how we might achieve it.F1000Research · 2024Article
- Assessment of knowledge and self-efficacy among health professionals and clinical scientists following the Cameroon HIV/AIDS Research Forum (CAM-HERO 2022) research methodology and bioethics training.The Pan African medical journal · 2024Article
- Decolonising vaccine production: Unpacking Ghanaians' support for made-in-Africa vaccines.Vaccine: X · 2023Article
- Increasing Effectiveness and Equity in Strengthening Health Research Capacity Using Data and Metrics: Recent Advances of the ESSENCE Mechanism.Annals of global health · 2023Article
- The Roles of Regional Organisations in Strengthening Health Research Systems in Africa: Activities, Gaps, and Future Perspectives.International journal of health policy and management · 2022Article
- Fixing Data Gaps for Population Health in Africa: An Urgent Need.International journal of public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIn recent years there have been calls to strengthen health sciences research capacity in African countries. This capacity can contribute to improvements in health, social welfare and poverty reduction through domestic application of research findings; it is increasingly seen as critical to pandemic preparedness and response. Developing research infrastructure and performance may reduce national economies' reliance on primary commodity and agricultural production, as countries strive to develop knowledge-based economies to help drive macroeconomic growth. Yet efforts to date to understand health sciences research capacity are limited to output metrics of journal citations and publications, failing to reflect the complexity of the health sciences research landscape in many settings.
methodsWe map and assess current capacity for health sciences research across all 54 countries of Africa by collecting a range of available data. This included structural indicators (research institutions and research funding), process indicators (clinical trial infrastructures, intellectual property rights and regulatory capacities) and output indicators (publications and citations).
resultsWhile there are some countries which perform well across the range of indicators used, for most countries the results are varied-suggesting high relative performance in some indicators, but lower in others. Missing data for key measures of capacity or performance is also a key concern. Taken as a whole, existing data suggest a nuanced view of the current health sciences research landscape on the African continent.
conclusionMapping existing data may enable governments and international organizations to identify where gaps in health sciences research capacity lie, particularly in comparison to other countries in the region. It also highlights gaps where more data are needed. These data can help to inform investment priorities and future system needs.
Indexed as
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.