Child health and diseases in medical tourism

The aim of this study is to bibliometrically analyze the studies on child health and pediatric diseases within the scope of medical tourism. When the data on the subject are analyzed, it is seen that medical tourism activities for child health and pediatric diseases are very limited. In this context, another aim of the study is to determine the activities carried out in the field of medical tourism for child health and pediatric diseases by taking into account the studies on the subject. The study is important in terms of the very limited literature and data on the subject and in terms of providing guidance to medical tourism stakeholders who operate and want to operate in the field of child health and pediatrics. The study was conducted using the bibliometric mapping technique, one of the types of bibliometric analysis methods. Bibliometric mapping technique was preferred among research analysis methods. The population of the study consists of studies on pediatric health and pediatric diseases within the scope of medical tourism. Within the scope of the research, various limitations were used in order to reach the sample within the population. The first of these limitations is the databases in which the studies will be examined. Other limitations used to reach the sample are language selection and keywords used. In order to reach the sample within the scope of the research, searches through databases were carried out in November 2023. As a result of the searches, 20 articles, 1 book chapter and 4 thesis studies were reached. These studies constitute the sample of the research. After determining the sample, the studies determined in order to reach the findings were subjected to analysis. When the findings regarding the results of the bibliometric analysis conducted within the scope of the research were examined, it was determined that there were a total of 25 studies, including 20 articles, 4 thesis studies and 1 book chapter, examining the relationship between pediatric health and diseases and medical tourism. As a result of the analysis of these studies, it is seen that 14 of these studies are empirical studies and 11 of them are literature reviews. Within the scope of the research, empirical studies and literature review studies were grouped separately and analyzed under separate headings. When the study is evaluated in general, it is seen that there are very limited studies examining the relationship between child health and medical tourism. This finding is similar to the study conducted by Culley et al. (2013), which covers the literature review on the subject. Although a period of 10 years has passed since Culley et al.'s (2013) study, the fact that the studies are still limited can be considered as an indicator of the weak interest in the subject. In this context, it can be said that the increase in studies on the relationship between pediatric health and medical tourism, in addition to contributing to the literature, is important as it provides guidance to stakeholders who want to invest in this field.