Diarrhea, Rotavirus, and the Nursing Research Gap: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research and Implications for Public Health Nursing

Abstract

Background Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrhea in children and continues to contribute significantly to childhood morbidity and mortality. While significant research has been conducted on the epidemiology and vaccination of rotavirus, the contributions of nursing to its prevention, management, and family-centered care are insufficiently documented. This study analyzes global research trends to identify gaps in nursing scholarship and emerging opportunities related to rotavirus.Methods A bibliometric analysis was performed using Web of Science and Scopus (1966-2024). Co-occurrence, co-citation, and thematic mapping techniques were applied to examine research productivity, influential contributors, collaboration patterns, and thematic evolution.Results The analysis included 210 publications from 146 sources authored by 1170 researchers. The most productive countries were the United States (18.7%), China (7%), and Canada (5.7%), while Brazil, India, and Australia demonstrated strong international collaboration. The dominant themes were immunization, infection control, and epidemiology. Emerging areas focused on zoonotic transmission and gut microbiota. Despite their importance in caregiver education, hydration management, and community prevention, nursing-led interventions were markedly underrepresented.Conclusions Rotavirus research continues to grow, yet nursing contributions remain limited within the broader scientific landscape. Despite their importance in caregiver education, hydration management, and community-level prevention, nursing-led interventions remain markedly underrepresented in the global literature. Advancing nursing-led preventive strategies, vaccine advocacy, and community-based interventions represent a critical opportunity to strengthen public health responses to rotavirus.Clinical Trial Registration No clinical trial number is required.