Human Rights and Leprosy: A Bibliometric Analysis

Leprosy, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that has been known for centuries. Leprosy is often associated with strong social stigma, which can result in human rights violations against sufferers. Many studies show that discrimination against leprosy sufferers still occurs in various parts of the world, despite efforts to eradicate this stigma. Bibliometric analysis is an effective tool for understanding research trends and patterns related to human rights and leprosy over time. Since 1972, research has been carried out on leprosy and human rights. Although there is a wealth of research on leprosy and human rights, little is known about how global trends in this research have developed since their inception. This research analyzes publications about leprosy and human rights from 1972 to 2024. The findings of this study show that the number of publications has increased rapidly, especially in the last 2 decades, with several prominent journals identified. A fair distribution of eight connected articles was found among four research publishing clusters identified by the VOSviewer analysis. The main related topics include neglected disease and isolation policy. Leprosy and human rights research is increasingly important, but knowledge gaps remain. Further research is needed to address stigma, discrimination, and access to health for people with leprosy. This research is important for understanding how research on human rights and leprosy has developed globally, which can help guide future research. Identifying emerging topics and underexplored areas will help researchers focus on the most pressing and relevant issues.