• Kantenga Dieu Merci Kabulo, Ulrick Sidney Kanmounye, Sarah Mutomb Ntshindj, Kingombe Yengayenga, Berjo Dongmo Takoutsing, Patrice Ntenga, Luxwell Jokonya, Jeff Ntalaja, Ignatius Esene, Aaron Musara, Guy Nday, Willy Arung Kalau, and Kazadi Kaluile Ntenga Kalangu.
• Department of Neurosurgery, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. Electronic address: dmkabulo@gmail.com.
• World Neurosurg. 2022 May 1; 161: e508-e513.

BackgroundPredatory journals (PJs) publish research with little to no rigorous peer review in exchange for money. It is unclear what proportion of researchers is vulnerable to PJs and which factors are associated with vulnerability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vulnerability of African neurosurgery researchers to PJs and identify their correlates.MethodsA 3-part electronic survey in English and French versions was distributed via social media to African consultants and trainees from November 1 to December 1, 2021. Bivariable relationships were evaluated with χ2 test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman ρ correlation, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThere were 101 respondents to the survey (response rate 56.1%). Respondents had mean age of 34.9 years, 82.2% were male (n = 83), 38.6% were consultant neurosurgeons (n = 39), and 33.7% were from Central Africa (n = 34). Of respondents, 66 had published ≥ 1 articles in the past, and 13 had published at least 1 article in a PJ. A PJ had contacted 34 respondents via e-mail, and 8 respondents had reviewed articles for a PJ. The Think. Check. Submit initiative and Beall's list were familiar to 19 and 13 respondents, respectively. Publication in PJs was correlated with the respondent's age (R = 0.23, P = 0.02) and total scholarly output (R = 0.38, P < 0.01).ConclusionsYoung African neurosurgery researchers are vulnerable to PJs primarily because they are not familiar with the concept of PJs or how to identify them.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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