# Medical and biomedical research productivity in Bahrain: an analysis of gender differences and patterns over two decades

## TL;DR

This study analyzes gender differences in medical and biomedical research productivity in Bahrain over 20 years, revealing significant disparities in authorship and publication quality.

## Contribution

The study provides the first detailed analysis of gender disparities in Bahraini medical research output using a two-decade bibliometric dataset.

## Key findings

- Medical and biomedical publications in Bahrain increased fivefold from 2005 to 2024.
- Male researchers dominated first, last, and corresponding author positions, with limited female representation in high-impact journals.
- Female corresponding authors had more female coauthors compared to male authors.

## Abstract

Gender disparities in medical and biomedical research productivity remain a critical issue globally, yet data from Arab countries, including Bahrain, are limited. This study examines gender differences in medical and biomedical research productivity in Bahrain over a two-decade period (2005–2024), focusing on publication rates, authorship patterns, journal quality, and collaboration trends.

A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database, covering 5,445 publications from Bahraini institutions in the medical and biomedical fields. Data were filtered to include only articles and reviews. Books, conference papers, and retracted works were excluded. The variables included authorship positions (first, last, corresponding), journal quartiles, SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), and collaboration types (institutional, national, regional, international). Gender was determined based on the authors' names and institutional and professional profiles. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-tests, and chi-square tests were used to compare sex differences (p < 0.05).

The number of medical and biomedical publications in Bahrain increased fivefold from 2005 to 2024, comprising 80.1% of the articles and 12.8% of the reviews. Arabian Gulf University led institutional output (30.2% of total publications). Local journals accounted for 54.0% of the publications, with limited international visibility. Males from Bahrain dominated authorship (59.3% first, 68.3% last, 65.6% corresponding), whereas females comprised 36.0% of Bahraini authors on average. Male first authors from Bahrain were more prevalent in Q1 journals (58.3% vs. 41.7%) and international collaborations (40.7%). The female corresponding authors included more female Bahraini coauthors (mean 78.19% vs. 15.99% for males).

Gender disparities in Bahrain's medical and biomedical research output underscore the need for targeted interventions to support female researchers, particularly in securing senior authorship and publishing in high-impact journals. Enhancing international collaboration and equitable resource allocation could further strengthen Bahrain's research landscape.