Bibliometric analysis of scientific research on early obstetric warning system

Maternal mortality continues to pose a significant public health challenge, and the obstetric early warning system (EOWS) represents a critical strategy to reduce maternal deaths. Therefore, monitoring the advancement of relevant research and development trends is vital. The study aimed to measure the authors' nation, subject areas, growth trends, and thematic research to describe published articles on EOWS. A retrospective bibliometric analysis and descriptive statistics were applied. We retrieved published articles from 2000 to 2024 using the Scopus database. We screened the abstracts and titles for eligibility. Eligible papers were further reviewed using co-occurrence analysis. The data were categorized and visualized using VOS viewer software (version 1.6.17, Java version 1.8.0_333 Oracle Corporation). A total of 126 articles were relevant and included in the review. The countries that produced the most publications were the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). The most relevant subjects were medicine and nursing. Four clusters emerged, reflecting the main topics, including maternal mortality, scoring system, hospitalization, and pregnant women. Current research terms included sequential organ failure assessment, electronic health records, length of stay, and oxygen therapy. This study suggests the need for further research on topics, such as "electronic medical record, primary health services, psychology, and cost-effectiveness" in relation to EOWS. Furthermore, this study encourages investigators and policymakers in the field of maternal health to expand their focus and explore interdisciplinary theories and approaches to address key issues in the field.