Publication Dynamics and Collaboration Networks in Prenatal Care Research: A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Analysis (2020–2024)

This study aimed to determine global publication trends and research focuses in the field of prenatal care (PNC) through bibliometric and visualization analyses, while also revealing the contribution of PNC research to nursing science and identifying developmental directions within the field. Articles published between 2020 and 2024 in the Scopus database were screened using keywords related to prenatal care, including only English-language nursing publications; a total of 1,919 articles across 275 journals met these criteria, and data were analyzed through bibliometric methods using R software and the Biblioshiny interface of the Bibliometrix package. Although annual publication numbers fluctuated, an upward trend was observed between 2020 and 2024, with the average number of citations per article calculated as 6.56 and the international co-authorship rate at 21.63%. The core keywords identified were woman, pregnancy, and prenatal care, while emerging research trends focused on psychosocial support and maternal care; the most productive institutions were the University of São Paulo, Haramaya University, and the University of Gondar, and the leading countries were the USA, Brazil, and Ethiopia, with Türkiye ranking 18th in publication productivity. International collaboration networks remained limited and predominantly centered around the USA. The findings indicate that research on PNC has expanded globally; however, disparities in international collaboration and geographical representation persist, and Türkiye’s 18th-place ranking reflects a moderate contribution to global PNC literature while highlighting the need to strengthen partnerships. Diversifying national studies to include both clinical and psychosocial aspects may enhance the visibility and scientific impact of Turkish nursing research, and the literature emphasizes the importance of holistic monitoring of maternal and infant health and integration of psychosocial support into nursing science. This study analyzes global research trends in the field of prenatal care through a comprehensive and systematic approach, thereby providing a significant contribution to the nursing-based bibliometric studies that are relatively underrepresented in the literature. Future efforts should focus on promoting international cooperation, expanding research on psychosocial support and technology use, and integrating these areas into nursing education.