The Status of Paediatric Practice and Research in Nigeria with Reference to Genetics: A Plea for Establishment of Medical Genetics Research Centre

Background: There is a general agreement that one way to assess medical scientific progress in different countries is to analyse the publication rate in scientific journals and the nature of the limitations in facilities in such studies. Method: The status of paediatric practice and research in Nigeria in the last one decade with particular reference to the country's progress in medical genetics was assessed, by auditing of published Nigerian studies in paediatrics between 1992 and 2001 based on articles published in 8 Nigerian medical journals and contributions made by Nigerian authors in two widely circulated international quarterly journals on tropical paediatrics. Results: Of the 2497 articles published in 8 Nigerian medical journals, 873(35%) articles were devoted to paediatrics. Of these, 270(31%) papers were related to genetics, dysmorphology and congenital malformations. There were also 101(11.6%) of the 873 articles that were primarily on non-genetic disorders, but needing investigatory facilities based on cytogenetic analysis, special staining techniques, molecular testing, special biochemistry or electron microscopy. Thus, there were 371(42.5%) of 873 studies devoted to paediatrics in which such special investigatory facilities could have improved the quality of practice or research in Nigeria. Regrettably, in only 8(2.2%) of 371 studies were the appropriate investigations available, mostly done either abroad or in collaboration with workers abroad. Furthermore, of the 1040 articles published in the last one decade in two widely circulated international quarterly journals on tropical paediatrics, up to 281(27%) were contributed by Nigerian authors. Of these 35(12.5%) were devoted to genetics and congenital malformations on Nigerian children, but in only 7 of these studies were all the necessary investigations available, but done in developed nations. Conclusion: This audit reveals that although Nigerian paediatricians have been very active in research, qualitative work on medical genetics is problematic and scientific progress in this very important field is very slow. It seems that in a developing nation like Nigeria collaboration with developed nations provides a strategy to address the problem. A plea is therefore made for the establishment of a reference medical genetics research center for Nigeria through such collaboration