Bibliometric analysis of scientific production on disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean

There is scarce literature that comprehensively examines the production of disability-related publications in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Thus, the present study sought to quantify and analyze trends over time and their relationship with the description of programs for people with disabilities (PWD) in LAC. Studies were identified in the Scopus/PubMed/LILACS databases for the period 2003–2023. To compare country-specific production, specific rates per million inhabitants were calculated. In the last two decades, the region had a sustained growth of scientific production on disabilities (n=2,886), with Brazil, Colombia, and Chile having the highest production. However, Chile has the highest standardized production with 12.4 publications per million inhabitants. 2.1% (61/2,886) of these publications describe programs to address PWD; most of these studies were related to health (36.1%) and education (19.7%), and 62.3% reported some type of evaluation of the impact of the program implemented. Further, those with a focus on multiple disabilities and publications with data from the intergenerational age group were the most prevalent, 52.2% (n=1,506) and 48.6% (n=1,403), respectively. Significant gaps are evident in the area of disabilities in the region that local and regional decision-makers should address to improve the quality of life of PWD in LAC.