Global Research Trends on Low Birth Weight in Midwifery: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2000-2025

Abstract

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) remains a major global health problem contributing to neonatal morbidity and mortality, with increasing research attention in maternal and midwifery care. However, a comprehensive mapping of global research trends on LBW in midwifery is still limited.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze global research trends on LBW in midwifery from 2000 to 2025 using a bibliometric approach.

Method: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using publications retrieved from the Dimensions database. The search strategy employed the query and was limited to publications from 2000–2025. After screening for relevance to LBW and midwifery, bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer version. The analysis included annual publication trends, citation performance, leading authors, journals, countries, and keyword co-occurrence networks. Network visualization was generated using co-occurrence, co-authorship, overlay, and density analyses with a minimum occurrence threshold for keyword mapping.

Results: The findings revealed a significant increase in publications and citations over time, particularly after 2015, indicating growing scientific interest. Key authors and journals were identified, along with dominant research themes such as maternal risk factors, neonatal outcomes, and psychosocial aspects. Network analysis demonstrated expanding international collaboration and evolving research hotspots in LBW-related midwifery research.

Conclusion: This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview of global research trends on LBW in midwifery and highlights the increasing scientific attention to this field. The findings may serve as a reference for future research priorities and international collaboration.

Limitations: This study was limited to publications indexed in the Dimensions database and relied on bibliometric indicators; therefore, it did not evaluate the methodological quality or risk of bias of the included studies.