Influence of PAHO publications on scientific production in the health field in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

The influence and impact of PAHO publications on scientific production in the field of health in Latin America and the Caribbean was the subject of a study based on a sample of 45 biomedical journals published between 1985 and 1992 in 17 countries of the Region. A total of 8 644 works (mostly articles), containing 82 143 citations, were studied. Of these, 3 806 citations were found to refer to works published by PAHO Headquaters in Washington, D.C.- theBoletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana receiving 222 (6 per cent), works in PAHO's Scientific Publications Series receiving 1 064 (28 per cent), and works in other PAHO publications receiving 1 076 (28 per cent). Overall, PAHO publications appeared to account for a significant share of the citations studied

Revised version of an article published in the Bol. Oficina Sanit. Panam. Vol. 119(6):515-528, 1995, under the title "Influencia de las publicaciones de la OPS en la produccion cientifica en salud en America Latina y el Caribe"