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. 2014 May 28;11(6):5792-806.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph110605792.

Global research on smoking and pregnancy-a scientometric and gender analysis

Mathias Mund  1 , Beatrix Kloft  2 , Matthias Bundschuh  3 , Doris Klingelhoefer  4 , David A Groneberg  5 , Alexander Gerber  6
Affiliations

Global research on smoking and pregnancy-a scientometric and gender analysis

Mathias Mund et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy is considered to be amongst the most harmful avoidable risk factors. In this scientometric and gender study scientific data on smoking and pregnancy was analyzed using a variety of objective scientometric methods like the number of scientific contributions, the number of citations and the modified h-index in combination with gender-specific investigations. Covering a time period from 1900 to 2012, publishing activities of 27,955 authors, institutions and countries, reception within the international scientific community and its reactions were analyzed and interpreted. Out of 10,043 publications the highest number of scientific works were published in the USA (35.5%), followed by the UK (9.9%) and Canada (5.3%). These nations also achieve the highest modified h-indices of 128, 79 and 62 and the highest citation rates of 41.4%, 8.6% and 5.3%, respectively. Out of 12,596 scientists 6,935 are female (55.1%), however they account for no more than 49.7% of publications (12,470) and 42.8% of citations (172,733). The highest percentage of female experts about smoking and pregnancy is found in Australasia (60.7%), while the lowest is found in Asia (41.9%). The findings of the study indicate an increase in gender equality as well as in quantity and quality of international scientific research about smoking and pregnancy in the future.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of publications.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Density equilizing map projections. (A) National publication volumes;(B) National citation volumes; (C) National modified h-indices.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cooperations of nations.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Gender analyses. (A) Proportional distribution of the gender of authors; (B) Average number of citations per author and ratio citation/publication of the gender of the authors.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Regional gender analyses. (A) Proportion of the number of female and male authors according to continents; (B) Female/male publication ratios and female/male citation ratios.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Institution analyses. (A) National institution volume; (B) Cooperation of institutions.
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