Malaria research in Malawi from 1984–2016: A literature review and bibliometric analysis
Clinical and basic research received the most external funding, while health policy and system research received the least
Abstract
In 1984, the first National Malaria Control Programme in Malawi was set up, to address the malaria burden in a coordinated manner. Research was seen as central to the effort, to inform policy.
This literature review and bibliometric analysis presents results of a study conducted to assess the type and amount of malaria research conducted in Malawi from 1984 to 2016 and its source of funding. The investigators searched the Medline/PubMed database for published primary research from Malawi. They also examined approved malaria studies from two Ethical Committees in Malawi: The National Health Sciences Research Committee (NHSRC) and the College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee (COMREC). They evaluated 483 publications and 165 approved studies.
Findings show that clinical and basic research (dominated by malaria in pregnancy, severe malaria, and vector and/or agent dynamics) received the most external malaria research funding, while health policy and system research received the least. The quantity may reflect scientific research activity, but the initial primary impact is contribution to policy development.
This work was carried out by an International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) researcher in the Malaria Programme, which is supported by core funding from the UK Department for International Development.
Citation
Mwendera C.A., de Jager C., Longwe H., Hongoro C., Mutero C.M. and Phiri K. (2017) Malaria research in Malawi from 1984–2016: A literature review and bibliometric analysis. Malaria Journal 16, 246. doi: 210.1186/s12936-12017-11895-12938.
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Malaria research in Malawi from 1984–2016: A literature review and bibliometric analysis