TY - JOUR
T1 - Authorship Distribution and Under-Representation of Sub-Saharan African Authors in Global Oncology Publications
AU - Tuyishime, Hubert
AU - Hornstein, Paula
AU - Lasebikan, Nwamaka
AU - Rubagumya, Fidel
AU - Mutebi, Miriam
AU - Fadelu, Temidayo
N1 - Funding Information:
Besides research training, fostering representation of SSA will require increasing research funding opportunities for local investigators. Some existing awards include the Beginning Investigator Grant for Catalytic Research, administered through a partnership between AORTIC and the American Association for Cancer Research, to foster exploratory data collection in Africa by African scientists; the ASCO International Innovation Grant, which supports novel projects with impact on cancer control in LMICs; Wellcome Early Career Grants, which offer funding for a broad array of disciplines for early-career researchers; and the American Society of Hematology's Global Research Award, which supports prospective future international scientific leaders in hematology. Although there have been efforts to increase funding opportunities, it is crucial to ensure that SSA and LIC investigators are empowered to apply for these grants, including mentorship on grantsmanship and having requisite local institutional administrative backing to manage the grants. ,
Publisher Copyright:
© American Society of Clinical Oncology.
PY - 2022/6/1
Y1 - 2022/6/1
N2 - PURPOSELocal researchers must be engaged in research conducted in their populations. However, local authors from low- and middle-income countries are often under-represented in global health journals. This report aims to assess and describe the representation of authors in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Global Oncology (JCO GO).METHODSThis retrospective cross-sectional study describes data from JCO GO articles published between October 2015 and March 2020. Data were collected on studied countries, authorship position, classified as first, middle, or last, and country of authors' institutional affiliations. Countries were then categorized on the basis of their World Bank region and income classifications. We describe aggregate authorship distribution and distribution by region and income classification. Additionally, we explore the relationships between author's country and studied country.RESULTSOf the 608 articles identified, 420 (69.1%) studied a single country population. Although articles represented studies from all World Bank regions, the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region accounted for the highest number (n = 145; 34.5%). In all other regions except SSA, most of the first (66.7%-100%) and last authors (56.6%-95.2%) had primary institutional affiliations based in the same region as the studied country. However, among articles about SSA countries, SSA first authors (n = 65; 44.8%) and last authors (n = 59; 40.7%) were under-represented. In fact, there were more North American first (n = 74; 51.0%) and last authors (n = 72; 49.6%) than SSA authors. There was higher SSA representation among middle authors (n = 97; 68.8%) in studies from the region. A similar trend was also noted with the under-representation of authors from low-income compared with high-income countries.CONCLUSIONSSA authors are under-represented in global oncology articles. Concerted strategies are needed to build local capacity, promote meaningful engagement, and foster equity.
AB - PURPOSELocal researchers must be engaged in research conducted in their populations. However, local authors from low- and middle-income countries are often under-represented in global health journals. This report aims to assess and describe the representation of authors in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Global Oncology (JCO GO).METHODSThis retrospective cross-sectional study describes data from JCO GO articles published between October 2015 and March 2020. Data were collected on studied countries, authorship position, classified as first, middle, or last, and country of authors' institutional affiliations. Countries were then categorized on the basis of their World Bank region and income classifications. We describe aggregate authorship distribution and distribution by region and income classification. Additionally, we explore the relationships between author's country and studied country.RESULTSOf the 608 articles identified, 420 (69.1%) studied a single country population. Although articles represented studies from all World Bank regions, the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region accounted for the highest number (n = 145; 34.5%). In all other regions except SSA, most of the first (66.7%-100%) and last authors (56.6%-95.2%) had primary institutional affiliations based in the same region as the studied country. However, among articles about SSA countries, SSA first authors (n = 65; 44.8%) and last authors (n = 59; 40.7%) were under-represented. In fact, there were more North American first (n = 74; 51.0%) and last authors (n = 72; 49.6%) than SSA authors. There was higher SSA representation among middle authors (n = 97; 68.8%) in studies from the region. A similar trend was also noted with the under-representation of authors from low-income compared with high-income countries.CONCLUSIONSSA authors are under-represented in global oncology articles. Concerted strategies are needed to build local capacity, promote meaningful engagement, and foster equity.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145813036&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1200/GO.22.00020
DO - 10.1200/GO.22.00020
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85145813036
SN - 2378-9506
VL - 8
JO - JCO Global Oncology
JF - JCO Global Oncology
M1 - e2200020
ER -
