Bibliometric analysis and systematic review of spatial injustice and spatial inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

In Sub-Saharan Africa, spatial injustice and inequality continue to be major issues that affect socioeconomic development, opportunities, and services. A comprehensive bibliometric review of studies on spatial injustice and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa that were published between 1981 and 2023 is presented in this paper. 384 publications were found to be eligible for analysis after being retrieved from the Web of Science database and reviewed according to PRISMA principles. VOSviewer (version 1.6.18) was used for bibliometric analysis to look at collaboration patterns, thematic focus areas, research output, and publication trends. With South Africa accounting for almost half of the articles 47.1%, followed by Ghana (12.0%) and Kenya (11.5%), the results show a significant increase in scholarly interest in spatial inequality and spatial injustice over the study period. Most of the literature focuses on socioeconomic differences, urban inequality, spatial planning, and service accessibility. The implications of urbanisation, governance, and the COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate effects on disadvantaged groups are highlighted by emerging study themes. Significant geographical and thematic gaps are also identified by the evaluation, including the underrepresentation of several Sub-Saharan African. This study offers a thorough summary of the development, output, and visibility of research on spatial injustice and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings contribute to a better understanding of existing knowledge gaps and offer directions for future research and evidence-based policy interventions aimed at promoting spatial justice and inclusive urban development.