Ethics Review Committees in Africa: Challenges and Training Needs
Author Information
Author(s): Aceme Nyika, W Kilama, R Chilengi, G Tangwa, P Tindana, P Ndebele, J Ikingura
Primary Institution: African Malaria Network Trust (AMANET)
Hypothesis
Are ethics review committees in Africa adequately prepared to handle the increasing complexity of health research?
Conclusion
The survey revealed significant gaps in the training and resources of ethics review committees in Africa, necessitating immediate capacity-building efforts.
Supporting Evidence
- 92% of committees cited a need for training in scientific design of clinical trials.
- 38% of ERC members reported not receiving any form of training.
- Most committees are hindered by a lack of resources and inadequate training.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well ethics committees in Africa are doing their jobs and found that many need more training and resources to keep up with health research.
Methodology
A survey of 31 ethics review committees across sub-Saharan Africa was conducted to assess their composition, training needs, and operational challenges.
Potential Biases
Committees with no external members may face a high risk of bias in their reviews.
Limitations
The survey may not fully represent all ethics review committees in Africa, particularly in central Africa where responses were rare.
Participant Demographics
The committees surveyed included members from various African countries, with an average of 11 members per committee and about 33% being female.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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