Visual Analysis of Midwifery Research in China Based on Bibliometrics

This study used bibliometrics to analyze the current trends, hotspots, and frontiers in Chinese midwifery research.

A search was conducted among midwifery literature published from 2010 to 2020, and bibliometric and information visualization analyses were conducted using the acquired data. A bibliometric analysis was performed on the quantity and trends in midwifery research, distribution of and cooperation among research institutions, coauthorship, distribution of disciplines, high-frequency keywords, and burst terms. Cooperation mode, research hotspots, and research frontiers were also analyzed.

The findings indicate that the number of midwifery research studies have been steadily increasing in China over the last decade. During the study period, Guangdong Province, which received the most research funding, produced the highest number of published articles, followed by Beijing and Shanghai. Research institutions related to midwifery are mainly universities with a strong focus on scientific research. Contemporary topics include core competencies and birth outcomes; research frontiers, including education; competence; and evidence-based practice.

China should accelerate in-depth midwifery research; increase opportunities for regional, institutional, and team cooperation; promote the sublimation of midwifery work from practical experience to disciplinary theory; and provide higher-quality professional services for maternal and child health. Bibliometric analyses may be used to examine midwifery research in other countries too.