DDI-KEN-NGR-ETH-MOZ-APHRC-VAJ-2024-V1.0
A Qualitative Study on Visibility of African Journals
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Kenya | KEN |
| Nigeria | NGA |
| Ethiopia | ETH |
| Mozambique | MOZ |
Administrative Records, Education (ad/edu]
N/A
Background
Journals are the primary medium for scholarly communication among academic communities. Journal visibility helps researchers to make decisions on where to publish. Some of the visibility platforms include Google Scholar (GS) platform, Scopus platform, Open Access (OA) system, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) platform, International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) platform, International Network for Advancing Science and Policy (INASP) platform, Web of Science (WoS) and PubMed platform. There is limited visibility of African journals which can be attributed to a number of underlying factors that affect the journal editorial practices. The factors include a lack of awareness among researchers, challenges related to access and dissemination, financial constraints, and limited access to digital platforms and technological infrastructure.
Methodology
This study employed a cross-sectional study design and the data was collected qualitatively. In-depth interviews (IDIs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were conducted in Kenya. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted conducted in Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Mozambique . The study population comprised the journal chief editors, representatives from African-wide journal databases/indexers, institutional repository representatives, and researchers. A purposive sampling technique was utilized in identifying the study participants. Ethical approvals were sought from relevant bodies in the countries. The qualitative data from the audio-recorded interviews was transcribed using MS Word and exported to NVivo software for analysis. The analysis was based on pre-defined themes as well as the use of open inductive content analysis.
African universities
African research institutions
Journal indexers
2025-09-12
N/A
African journal editors, African-wide journal databases/indexers, institutional repositories, journal chief editors, and researchers/authors/potential publishers, institutional heads of research
| Topic |
|---|
| Journals indexing |
| Journals discoverability |
| Journals indexing |
Kenya
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Mozambique
African journal editors, African-wide journal databases/indexers, institutional repositories, journal chief editors, and researchers/authors/potential publishers, institutional heads of research
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Marta Vicente-Crespo | African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Sindi | African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC | Co-Investigator |
| Emmy Igonya | African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC | Co-Investigator |
| Leah Mwangi | African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC | Project manager |
| Patrick Amboka | African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC | Research Officer |
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| The Gates Foundation | Funder |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Amboka | African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC | Data Documentation Specialist |
| Bonface Ingumba | African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC | Data Governance Officer |
The study utilized a purposive sampling technique and targeted African journal editors, African-wide journal databases/indexers, institutional repositories, journal chief editors, and researchers/authors/potential publishers, institutional heads of research. Purposive sampling was utilized to ensure equal representation of the study participants based on the thematic areas (Humanities, social sciences, health sciences, etc). This ensured the generalisability of the research findings across all thematic areas. An initial search done on Kenyan journals found 120 journals hosted by universities and research institutions. This total number will generate enough sample size for our study. The assumption was that, the same number of journals will be hosted by institutions in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Mozambique.
Purposive sampling was used to recruit 30 journal editors for the study. Twenty representatives from institutional repositories were included in the study. Thirty authors/researchers were also selected purposively, and ten institutional heads of research. Two representatives from African-wide databases/indexers were also included in the study.
None
100%
N/A
In-depth interviews (IDIs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were conducted in Kenya. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted conducted in Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Mozambique . The study population comprised the journal chief editors, representatives from African-wide journal databases/indexers, institutional repository representatives, and researchers.
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 2024-06-18 | 2024-11-24 |
April 2024-December 2024
Data was collected by 12 Research Assistants who were supervised by a Research Officer incharge of data qualitative data collection. During the FGDs, IDIs and KIIs, the Research officer conducted sit inn interviews and debriefings after every session.
Qualitataive data was colected using recorders which were confirmed to be in good working condition. The recordings were then downloaded from the recorders and uploaded in an official and secure google document on a daily basis. The recordings on the recorders were also deleted on a daily basis to ensure data privacy, security and protection
N/A
| Name | URL | |
|---|---|---|
| African Population and Health Research Center | www.aphrc.org | datarequest@aphrc.org |
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Copyright © APHRC, 2025
DDI-KEN-NGR-ETH-MOZ-APHRC-VAJ-2024-V1.0
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| African Population and Health Research Center | DDI Documentation |
2025-09-12
Version 1.0 (September 2025)
