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Freire CVS, Campos LN, Rangel AG, Naus A, Wagemaker S, Brandão GR, Schlindwein SS, Feres B, de Araújo Grisi G, Mooney DP, Ferreira JL, Ferreira R. Uncovering gaps in women's authorship: A big data analysis in academic surgery. World J Surg 2024. [PMID: 38923616 DOI: 10.1002/wjs.12256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Women are underrepresented in surgical authorship. Using big data analyses, we aimed to investigate women's representation as first and last authors in surgical publications worldwide and identify underlying predictors. METHODS We retrieved eligible surgical journals using Scimago Journal & Country Rank 2021. We queried articles indexed in PubMed from selected journals published between January 2018 and April 2022. We used the EDirect tool to extract bibliometric data, including first and last authors' names, primary affiliation country, and publication year. Countries and dependent territories were classified following World Bank income levels and regions. Women's representation was predicted from forenames using the Gender-API software. Citations were included if gender accuracy was ≥80%. RESULTS We analyzed 210,853 citations containing both first and last authors' forenames, representing 158 countries and 14 territories. Women constituted 23.8% (50,161/210,853) of the first and 14.7% (31,069/210,853) of the last authors. High-income economies had more women as first authors than other income categories (p < 0.001), but fewer women as last authors than upper-middle- and lower-middle-income economies (p < 0.001). The odds of the first author being a woman were more than three times higher when the last author was also a woman (OR 3.21, 95% CI 3.13-3.30) and vice versa (OR 3.25, 95% CI 3.16-3.34) after adjusting for income level and publication year. CONCLUSIONS Women remain globally underrepresented in surgical authorship. Our findings urge concerted global efforts to overcome identified disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Letícia Nunes Campos
- Harvard Medical School, Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Ayla Gerk Rangel
- Harvard Medical School, Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Harvey E. Beardmore Division of Pediatric Surgery, The Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Abbie Naus
- Harvard Medical School, Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sofia Wagemaker
- Kursk State Medical University, School of Medicine, Kursk, Kurskaya Oblast, Russia
| | - Gabriela Rangel Brandão
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Brenda Feres
- Kursk State Medical University, School of Medicine, Kursk, Kurskaya Oblast, Russia
| | | | - David P Mooney
- Harvard Medical School, Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Júlia Loyola Ferreira
- Harvey E. Beardmore Division of Pediatric Surgery, The Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Roseanne Ferreira
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Seguya A, Kabagenyi F, Tamir SO. 'Seeing is believing' - gender disparities in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery in Africa: a narrative review. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2024; 32:188-192. [PMID: 38363234 DOI: 10.1097/moo.0000000000000964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Various factors affect otolaryngology - head and neck surgery (OHNS) services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); including inadequate infrastructure, limited academic positions, unfavorable hospital research policies, and traditional misconceptions about gender and surgery, among others. Although gender inequalities exist globally, they are particularly pronounced in LMICs, especially in Africa. RECENT FINDINGS A comparative narrative literature review for relevant manuscripts from January 1, 2017 to through January 10th, 2024, using PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar for articles from the United States/Canada and Africa was done. 195 relevant articles were from the United States/Canada, while only 5 were from Africa and only 1 manuscript was relevant to OHNS. The reviewed articles reported that gender disparities exist in medical training, authorship, and career advancement. We highlight possible solutions to some of these disparities to promote a more gender-diversified workforce in OHNS in Africa as well as all over the world. SUMMARY Additional studies on gender disparities in Africa, are needed. These studies will highlight need for inclusive policies, structured and accessible mentorship programs; through which these disparities can be highlighted and addressed. This will in the long run ensure sustainability of OHNS care in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Seguya
- Department of Ear Nose and Throat, Mulago National Referral Hospital
- Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative
| | - Fiona Kabagenyi
- Department of Ear Nose and Throat, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative
| | - Sharon Ovnat Tamir
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
- Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative
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