Bibliometric Analysis of Neonatal Sepsis Research in Sub-Saharan Africa (2000-2025): Trends, Funding Patterns, and...

Neonatal sepsis accounts for a substantial proportion of newborn mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), yet the region remains under-represented in global research output. While bibliometric analyses of neonatal sepsis exist globally, none have mapped 25-year trends, funding sources, and collaboration networks specific to SSA. Understanding these patterns is critical to address research inequity and guide evidence-based investment. We conducted a bibliometric analysis of publications on neonatal sepsis in SSA indexed in Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection from 2000 to 2025. A comprehensive search string captured neonatal sepsis terms and all 46 SSA countries. After deduplication and screening per PRISMA 2020 guidelines, data were analyzed using the Bibliometrix R package. Outcomes included publication trends, geographic productivity, funding sources, co-authorship networks, and keyword co-occurrence to identify research themes and gaps. A total of 1,247 publications were included. Annual output increased from 12 articles in 2000 to a peak of 106 in 2024, followed by a slight decline to 98 in 2025, with an average annual growth rate of 8.2% (95% CI: 7.1-9.3%). South Africa (28.3%), Nigeria (15.7%), and Kenya (10.2%) contributed 54.2% of total publications. The top institutions were University of Cape Town (n = 94), Makerere University (n = 67), and University of Nairobi (n = 58). Funding analysis showed that 82.3% of funded studies were supported by high-income country agencies, primarily National Institutes of Health (NIH) (15.6%), Wellcome Trust (12.3%), and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (9.8%), while African national funders accounted for <6.5%. Country collaboration networks revealed strong North-South links but limited South-South collaboration, with a multiple-country publication ratio of 0.34. Keyword analysis identified microbiology (18.4%) and antibiotic resistance (14.2%) as dominant themes, while implementation science (2.1%) and health systems research (1.8%) remained underrepresented. Despite a 25-year increase in output, neonatal sepsis research in SSA remains disproportionately low relative to disease burden and heavily dependent on external funding. Strengthening African-led funding mechanisms and fostering South-South collaborations are essential to build sustainable research capacity and align research priorities with local mortality burden.