Female Authorship Publishing Trends and Forecasting in Pediatric Urology: Are We Closer to Gender Equality?

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature of 5 pediatric urology topics and conduct gender based and forecasting analyses of first and corresponding authors.

METHODS

A PubMed search was performed for hypospadias, hydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and cryptorchidism over 3 decades from 1990 to 2019. The 50 most relevant "best match" papers from each decade were extracted by topic. Author gender, specialty, and advanced degrees, along with journal and publication variables were collected. Forecasting analyses were conducted through the Holt-Winters method.

RESULTS

Among 750 papers analyzed, 78% of corresponding and 70% of first authors were male. A significant upward trend was observed for female-authored publications in both first and corresponding positions over time (P <.01). Forecasting analyses predicted a continuing upward trend for female corresponding (55%) and first authors (83%) by 2049. Most studies originated from pediatric urology (59%), followed by pediatric surgery (9%) and endocrinology/genetics (5%). Papers focused in The Journal of Urology (30%) with the majority originating from the United States (38%). Most were retrospective (44%) and discussed medical (54%) versus surgical management (20%).

CONCLUSION

The majority of pediatric urology literature has been generated by male authors. A persistent, rising trend in female authorship across all examined pediatric urology topics was noted. These encouraging findings are projected to continue to increase in the future, suggesting a movement toward equal and fair gender representation in authorship in pediatric urology.