Research ethics policies and practices in health research institutions in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey

Zielinski, Chris; Kebede, Derege; Mbondji, Peter Ebongue; Sanou, Issa; Kouvividila, Wenceslas; Lusamba-Dikassa, Paul-Samson

doi:10.1177/0141076813517679

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…In Mbondji and colleagues¿ [ 20 ] questionnaire survey, 75% (33/44) of the countries reported to have functional ethical review committees. About 57% of the 847 health research institutions surveyed by Zielinski and colleagues [ 21 ] responded to the survey, with 51% of these reporting to have policies on research ethics, 58% to have written policies requiring researchers to obtain informed consent of research participants, 34% to have established ethics review committees, 42% to require that studies go through ethics review committees, 46% to have linkages with national or regional ethics organisations, 53% to have adopted standard operating procedures, and 36% to provide some type of ethics training for staff [ 36 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of studies in the African Region have attempted to analyse the condition of individual components of health systems such as financing [ 15 ],[ 16 ], human resources [ 17 ], information and information systems [ 18 ], national research systems [ 19 ],[ 20 ], research ethics [ 21 ], and services [ 22 ]-[ 27 ], but no empirical study on leadership [ 28 ] and governance of health development [ 29 ] has been carried out. Also, there is a dearth of literature comprehensively synthesising the situation of health systems in the Region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investing in health systems for universal health coverage in Africa

Sambo

Kirigia

2014

BMC Int Health Hum Rights

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BackgroundThis study focused on the 47 Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region. The specific objectives were to prepare a synthesis on the situation of health systems¿ components, to analyse the correlation between the interventions related to the health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and some health systems¿ components and to provide overview of four major thrusts for progress towards universal health coverage (UHC).MethodsThe WHO health systems framework and the health-related MDGs were the frame of reference. The data for selected indicators were obtained from the WHO World Health Statistics 2014 and the Global Health Observatory.ResultsAfrican Region¿s average densities of physicians, nursing and midwifery personnel, dentistry personnel, pharmaceutical personnel, and psychiatrists of 2.6, 12, 0.5, 0.9 and 0.05 per 10 000 population were about five-fold, two-fold, five-fold, five-fold and six-fold lower than global averages.Fifty-six percent of the reporting countries had fewer than 11 health posts per 100 000 population, 88% had fewer than 11 health centres per 100 000 population, 82% had fewer than one district hospital per 100 000 population, 74% had fewer than 0.2 provincial hospitals per 100 000 population, and 79% had fewer than 0.2 tertiary hospitals per 100 000 population.Some 83% of the countries had less than one MRI per one million people and 95% had fewer than one radiotherapy unit per million population. Forty-six percent of the countries had not adopted the recommendation of the International Taskforce on Innovative Financing to spend at least US$ 44 per person per year on health. Some of these gaps in health system components were found to be correlated to coverage gaps in interventions for maternal health (MDG 5), child health (MDG 4) and HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria (MDG 6).ConclusionsSubstantial gaps exist in health systems and access to MDG-related health interventions. It is imperative that countries adopt the 2014 Luanda Commitment on UHC in Africa as their long-term vision and back it with sound policies and plans with clearly engrained road maps for strengthening national health systems and addressing the social determinants of health.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investing in health systems for universal health coverage in Africa

Sambo

Kirigia

2014

BMC Int Health Hum Rights

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“…The knowledge of research ethics enables setting and monitoring of ethical standards, and monitoring and evaluating the health research system. In a study of 42 sub-Saharan African countries, increasing research capacity top the list of identified obstacles to collaboration in research between stakeholders [18]. To strengthen collaborations between local and foreign researchers and encourage robust ethical dialogue between stakeholders in the research enterprise, there is need to bridge the knowledge gap between the local and foreign partners.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and Practice of Research Ethics among Biomedical Researchers in Southern Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

Ogunrin¹,

Ogunrin²

2016

J Clin Res Bioeth

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Objective: The knowledge and application of ethical principles to the conduct of human subjects' research is crucial to the integrity of the research industry. This study sought to assess the knowledge and practice of research ethics among biomedical researchers in research institutions in southern Nigeria. Methods: Four tertiary biomedical research institutions from the three geo-political zones situated in the southern part of Nigeria were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Research participants were then selected by purposive sampling from these institutions. The knowledge and practice of research ethics among the study participants were assessed with a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done with Stata version 10SE. Results: A total of 102 biomedical researchers (66 males and 36 females) with a mean age of 39.8 (SD 7.0) years participated in the study. Forty-five percent knew that ethical review of research is for the protection of research participants from harm though sixty-four percent had attended at least one training seminar in research ethics. About fifteen percent knew of any international ethical guideline. Approximately eighty-five percent agreed that independent ethical review of protocol is important but only forty-eight percent received ethical approval for their research. Conclusion: The knowledge and practice of research ethics is inadequate among Nigerian biomedical researchers. Attendance at ethics seminar did not reflect knowledge and practice of research ethics. The knowledge and practice of research ethics need improvement. The independent review of research protocols must be obligatory.

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“…A similar study conducted in 2008 revealed that regulatory infrastructures and independent oversight processes that could minimize the risk of exploitation were not-so-firmly established; NECs were inadequately supported financially and could not maintain and sustain themselves; they were faced with operational challenges stemming from a dearth of trained bioethicists/ethicists and/or adequately experienced committee members skilled enough to undertake ethics review [ 4 , 5 ]. This raises concerns as to whether research ethics principles can be adequately enforced in these countries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Readiness of ethics review systems for a changing public health landscape in the WHO African Region

2015

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BackgroundThe increasing emphasis on research, development and innovation for health in providing solutions to the high burden of diseases in the African Region has warranted a proliferation of studies including clinical trials. This changing public health landscape requires that countries develop adequate ethics review capacities to protect and minimize risks to study participants. Therefore, this study assessed the readiness of national ethics committees to respond to challenges posed by a globalized biomedical research system which is constantly challenged by new public health threats, rapid scientific and technological advancements affecting biomedical research and development, delivery and manufacture of vaccines and therapies, and health technology transfer.MethodsThis is a descriptive study, which used a questionnaire structured to elicit information on the existence of relevant national legal frameworks, mechanisms for ethical review; as well as capacity requirements for national ethics committees. The questionnaire was available in English and French and was sent to 41 of the then 46 Member States of the WHO African Region, excluding the five Lusophone Member States. Information was gathered from senior officials in ministries of health, who by virtue of their offices were considered to have expert knowledge of research ethics review systems in their respective countries.ResultsThirty three of the 41 countries (80.5 %) responded. Thirty (90.9 %) of respondent countries had a national ethics review committee (NEC); 79 % of which were established by law. Twenty-five (83.3 %) NECs had secretarial and administrative support. Over 50 % of countries with NECs indicated a need for capacity strengthening through periodic training on international guidelines for health research (including clinical trials) ethics; and allocation of funds for administrative and secretariat support.ConclusionsDespite the existing training initiatives, the Region still experiences a shortage of professionals trained in health research ethics/ethicists. Committees continue to face various capacity needs especially for evaluating clinical trials, for monitoring ongoing research, database management and for accrediting institutional ethics committees. Given the growing number of clinical trials involving human participants in the African Region, there is urgent need for supporting countries without NECs to establish them; capacity strengthening where they exist; and creation of a regional network and joint ethical review mechanisms, whose membership would be open to all NECs of the Region.

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Research ethics policies and practices in health research institutions in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey

Cited by 12 publications

References 12 publications

Investing in health systems for universal health coverage in Africa

Investing in health systems for universal health coverage in Africa

Knowledge and Practice of Research Ethics among Biomedical Researchers in Southern Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

Readiness of ethics review systems for a changing public health landscape in the WHO African Region

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