PC2105: Contributions to Global Paediatrics from Low- and Middle-income Countries: Insight from the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics 2020

Background: Research is essential to improve clinical care. Socioeconomic, geographic, historical, and political differences have led to disparities in the capacity for scientific research between countries and regions. Even though more than ninety percent of the world´s children live in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where barriers to health and research contribute to significant child morbidity and mortality, most medical research is performed in high-income countries (HIC). In the field of pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Annual National Conference and Exhibition in the United States is the largest international pediatrics-focused research. AAP abstracts submissions range from basic research to clinical trials and health services research. That are submitted for blinded peer review and are selected for presentation according to their scientific quality and merit as determined by an international selection committee, regardless of their country or region of origin. This represent an interesting focus of study, where equity in global research capacity and representation can be assessed at a single point in time.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study analyzing abstracts presented at AAP National Conference 2020 published online in the supplemental edition of Pediatrics 2021;147 (Issue 3). LIMCs were selected according to the World Bank classification including countries or territories with a gross national income <$12,696 USD per capita. Our objective is to describe the proportion of abstracts presented at AAP National Conference 2020 from LMIC and analyze their characteristics as a surrogate for academic contributions to global pediatrics.

Results: A total of 1026 abstracts presented at AAP National Conference 2020. Among them, 39 abstracts (3.9%) had a contributing author from an institution in an LMIC. In 66% it does not correspond to the first author. Exclusive contributions from LMIC represented 1.3% of all abstracts (n=13). Latin America was represented in only 6 papers ( < 1%). None corresponded from Mexico. Global Health was the main theme in which collaboration was found by LMIC authors. 38 abstracts accepted and published in this category, in 24/38 abstracts (63%) at least one author from LMIC was found. Being the researcher a first author in only seven abstracts, which correspond to 30% of the total works with contribution from LMIC.

Conclusion: LMICs were responsible for only a small fraction of contributions to AAP2020. More than half of the accepted papers represented a form of international collaboration. There is a great area of opportunity to contribute solid research in pediatrics developed from LMIC.