Publication priorities in pharmaceutical journals on epidemics planned to end according to the Sustainable Development Goals

BackgroundEpidemics targeted to end by the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.3 significantly impact morbidity and mortality, requiring adequate response. We investigated the prioritization of publications regarding SDG target 3.3 epidemics: AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and associated factors. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included journals from the 2024 Journal Citation Reports’ (JCR) Pharmacology & Pharmacy category. Primary outcome was publication priority on SDG target 3.3 (≥ 2% of publications about AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria). Bibliometric indicators were collected from JCR, and the number of publications in each journal up to 2023 was identified using Web of Science Core Collection. Gender and countries of the editors were obtained from the journals’ websites and categorized as low-and middle-income or high-income according to the World Bank classification. Poisson regression was employed to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the outcome and journal characteristics. ResultsWe included 349 pharmaceutical journals, which were mostly headed by men (78.7%) and by editors-in-chief from high-income countries (84.0%). Most journals started in 1991-2010 (40.1%), were not open-access (63.3%), and had majority-male editorial boards (86.7%). Higher publication priority on SDG target 3.3 was observed in journals established more recently (1991‒2010: PR 1.58; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.27; ≥2011: PR 1.68; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.43) when compared to <1990, and those with leading editors from low-and middle-income countries (PR 1.44; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.99) in comparison to journals with editors-in-cheif from high-income countries. ConclusionsJournals with editors-in-chief from developing countries and those established more recently published more articles on SDG target 3.3 themes. Increasing diversity in editorial boards can be strategic on the path to disseminating research for sustainable development.