Mapping cancer, cardiovascular and malaria research in Brazil

This paper presents performance indicators for the Brazilian cancer, cardio vascular and malaria research areas from 1981 to 1995. The data show an inc reasing number of papers since 1981 and author numbers indicate a continuou s growth of the scientific community and suggest an expected impact of scie ntific activity on biomedical education. The data also characterize cardiov ascular research as a well-established area and cancer research as a faster growing consolidating field. The 1989-1994 share of Brazilian articles amo ng world publications shows a growing trend for the cancer (1.61) and cardi ovascular (1.59) areas, and a decrease for the malaria area (0.89). The bur den of the three diseases on society is contrasted by the small number of c onsolidated Brazilian research groups, and a questionable balance of themat ic activity, especially with regard to malaria. Brazilian periodicals play an important role in increasing the international visibility of science pro duced in the country. Cancer and cardiovascular research is strongly concen trated in the Southeastern and in Southern regions of Brazil, especially in Sao Paulo (at least one address from Sao Paulo in 64.5% of the 962 cancer articles and in 66.9% of the 2250 cardiovascular articles, the second state being Rio de Janeiro with at least one address in 14.1 and 11% of those ar ticles, respectively). Malaria research (468 articles) is more evenly distr ibuted across the country, following the pattern of the endemic distributio n of the disease. Surveying these national indicator trends can be useful t o establish policies in the decision process about health sciences, medical education and public health.