Mapping Scientific Production on Physical Disability, Health, Work, and Human Dignity: A Bibliometric Analysis (1924–2024)

Abstract

Introduction: Physical disability is a complex social issue that intertwines with health, job inclusion, and the essence of human dignity. Even though it’s a topic of global importance, research in this field is quite uneven, particularly in Latin America. Methods: This study performed a descriptive bibliometric analysis of 25,339 documents listed in the Scopus database from 1924 to 2024. We used Boolean operators (AND, OR) to effectively combine the terms physical disability, health, work, and human dignity, ensuring we stayed on point thematically. We looked at indicators like the number of publications, citation rates, collaboration patterns, and types of documents. Results: Our findings show a steady increase in scientific output from 1990 to 2023, but there was a notable 40.4% drop in 2024, likely due to systemic delays or under-indexing. Most of the publications come from high-income countries, and international collaborations tend to have the highest citation impact (4.04 citations per document). Original articles make up the bulk (77%), and while the focus is predominantly biomedical, we’re starting to see more interdisciplinary contributions from social sciences, psychology, and environmental sciences. Commonly used keywords include “work disability,” “mental health,” and “return to work,” highlighting the field’s emphasis on psychosocial and occupational reintegration. Conclusions: While research on physical disability, work, and health is well-established, it clearly shows regional and thematic gaps. Moving forward, we should encourage inclusive, cross-sectoral collaboration and boost participation from underrepresented areas. It’s crucial to integrate human dignity as a core analytical focus to steer academic discussions toward equity, justice, and effective job inclusion for individuals with physical disabilities.