The impact of Zika virus on children's development: a review using bibliometric analysis

Abstract

This bibliometric review aims to explore and discuss the scope and limitations of the literature addressing the consequences of Zika virus infection and its impact on child development. The objective is to comprehensively demonstrate the collaboration network among countries and institutions and track emerging trends. A systematic literature review was conducted using the Web of Science database, covering publications from 2016 to June 2022. The VOSviewer tool was employed for bibliometric analysis, examining co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, and co-citation of journals, authors, and references in the literature. Data were obtained from 161 studies published across 44 categories, with pediatrics and clinical neurology as primary fields. Three main research trends were identified: one focusing on congenital Zika syndrome and its association with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and the other trend examining the relationship between infection during pregnancy, geographic location, and the neurodevelopmental characteristics of affected children. Our study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of Zika virus research, specifically regarding its effects on child development. The findings highlight global collaboration patterns and research institution affinities, with Brazil emerging as a leading contributor to the literature.

Keywords

• bibliometric
• congenital syndrome
• microcephaly
• neurodevelopment