Malaria Research Output in Malaysia from 1956 to 2024: A Scientometric Analysis

BACKGROUND Malaysia is recognized as a leading contributor to global malaria research, especially after the identification of Plasmodium knowlesi as a significant zoonotic agent of human malaria. OBJECTIVE Comprehensive bibliometric analyses assessing research volume, collaborative networks, and thematic evolution in Malaysian malaria research remain limited. METHODS This scientometric study examined malaria-related publications from Malaysia indexed in Scopus between 1956 and 2024. A total of 674 records were analyzed using descriptive statistics, collaboration metrics, citation analysis, and bibliometric laws, including Lotka's, Bradford's, and Zipf's. VOSviewer was utilized to generate visual networks of authors, institutions, countries, keywords, and their interrelationships. RESULTS Research output was limited until the late 2000s, then grew at an average annual rate of 11.88%, peaking in 2022. Collaboration was strong (coefficient 0.66), with Malaysia serving as a central hub connecting Australia, United Kingdom, United States, and other Asian countries. Author productivity was skewed, deviating from Lotka’s Law, while a core set of journals, led by Malaria Journal, dominated publication in line with Bradford’s Law. Keyword analysis, following Zipf’s Law, highlighted clinical management, P. knowlesi diagnostics, and epidemiology as key research themes. CONCLUSIONS The rapid expansion of Malaysian malaria research is marked by a strong thematic focus and robust international collaboration, particularly in zoonotic malaria. To support malaria elimination objectives and strengthen the broader One Health and biomedical research ecosystem, increased institutional participation is recommended to ensure the sustainability of future interdisciplinary research.