Social pediatrics: scientometric analysis
<i>Aim.</i> To identify trends of further development, priorities, challenges and vectors of further research in social pediatrics. <i>Methods.</i> Interpretive content analysis of dissertations in the field of public health and healthcare for the period from 1991 to 2012 was performed. 4194 items were analyzed. <i>Results.</i> At the first stage of the research, it was found that 14.8% of public health dissertations presented during the research period addressed pediatric problems. The next stage included qualitative and quantitative analysis of top-priority topics of social pediatrics in public health dissertations. The analysis of social pediatrics areas included the following categories: (1) studies of social (psychosocial) determinants of children’s health; (2) studies of health condition of children and adolescents in a stressful situation; (3) organization of medical and social aid to children. Studies of social (psychosocial) determinants of children’s health were the most common (35.9 %). Studies of health status of vulnerable children and adolescents had a share of 15% of all studies. 7.6% of studies were devoted to pediatric medical and social aid organization. <i>Conclusion.</i> It is important to facilitate the research in social pediatrics to optimize the scientific data and improve pediatric medical and social aid.