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

Objective: To describe the state of research ethics policies and practices in health research institutions in sub-Saharan African countries.

Design: A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information on research ethics from health research institutions.

Setting: Forty-two sub-Saharan African countries.

Participants: Key informants from the health research institutions.

Main outcome measures: Existence of institutional ethics review policies and mechanisms.

Results: About half (51%) of respondent institutions reported having policies on research ethics and 58% had written policies requiring that researchers obtain informed consent of research participants. About one-third of respondent institutions (34%) had established ethics review committees, 42% required that studies went through ethics review committees and 46% had linkages with national or regional ethics organisations. Regarding operating procedures for ethics review committees, 53% had adopted standard operating procedures. Less than one-quarter of respondent institutions reported having policies in place to monitor ongoing research. Of the institutions that monitored ongoing research, 34% did an annual ethical review and 74% required a periodic written report. Only 36% provided any type of ethics training for staff, including those conducting health research and those who were not members of the ethics review committee.

Conclusions: There are substantial gaps in the capacity of health research institutions in the WHO African Region to undertake ethical review of studies before, during and after studies conducted. There is a need to strengthen such capacity in order to ensure the wellbeing of individuals enrolled in studies and that of communities that host these studies.