Retractions in the field of pregnancy and pain: bibliometric characteristics, reasons, and trends.

The aim of this study is to analyze the dynamics of scientific integrity in the literature by analyzing bibliometric characteristics, temporal trends, and reasons for retractions in the field of pregnancy and pain. This cross-sectional study analyzed publications retrieved in the Scopus database using the keywords "pregnancy" and "pain" and tagged as "retracted". Publication year, retraction year, country, journal, subject area, keywords, citation counts, Altmetric Attention Score (AAS), and reasons for retraction were evaluated. Temporal trends were examined using linear regression, and the correlation between citation counts and AAS was analyzed using Spearman's rho test. A total of 55 retracted publications were examined. A significant upward trend over time was identified (β = 0.36; p = 0.017). These retractions originated from 17 countries, notably from Egypt (n = 19) and China (n = 14). The primary reason for retraction was data integrity issues (n = 20), followed by peer review problems (n = 13) and duplication (n = 9). The median citation count was 8 (0-80), and the median AAS score was 0 (0-659). A positive, significant correlation between citation numbers and AAS scores was reported (rho = 0.35; p = 0.008). Retractions have grown over time, mainly due to data integrity and peer review-publication processes. Citations and digital visibility of retracted studies, especially in clinical contexts, need careful monitoring. The results highlight the importance of rigorous research design, data transparency, and editorial oversight in upholding scientific integrity.