Characterization of the collection of university scientific journals of health sciences in Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: the existence of university scientific journals has a positive impact on undergraduate publication, encouraging and training new generations of researchers. Objective: to characterize the collection of University Scientific Journals of Health Sciences in Cuba. Method: observational, descriptive and transversal study in the 15 journals that form the University Scientific Journals of Health Sciences in Cuba. Production indicators were studied, as well as indexing. Results: 15 Cuban RCUs referring to the area of Health Sciences were identified. One hundred percent are installed in Open Journal System, and only one uses its version 3. 93,33 % have an ISSN. The journals Universidad Médica Pinareña and 16 de abril achieved a greater number of indexations. The database with the highest number of journals was REDIB (9), followed by DOAJ (4) and CAB International (4). The most productive year was 2021 (ndoc=394), with the most productive journals being 16 de Abril (ndoc=304) and Universidad Médica Pinareña (ndoc=274). The rate of change showed an increasing trend in the period 2018-2021, however it was negative (Tvar=-5,21) between 2021 and 2022. Conclusions: Cuba has a wide collection of University Scientific Journals, which are in a process of growth and consolidation. There was a tendency to increase the number of articles published in the journals. The journals Universidad Médica Pinareña and 16 de abril showed a greater development, achieving better indexing and a higher scientific production.