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

Background: Health research in sub-Saharan Africa takes place against a lengthy history of exploitation and unfair collaboration. This has involved the export of samples and data from the continent for the benefit of institutions and researchers elsewhere. In this paper, we report the perspectives of people involved in conducting genomics research in Zambia and the capacity of the Health Research Act (HRA) of 2013 in regulating genomics research. Methods: We approached 14 purposively selected stakeholders involved in the development or implementation of the HRA in Zambia for in-depth interviews. These were members of research ethics committees, genomics researchers, Ministry of Health policy makers and institutional lawyers. Results: Participants reported that there are benefits in genomics research for Zambia such as diagnosing and treatment of diseases. Participants also expressed concerns, most of which were ethical in nature. Prominent concerns were on consent. Participants’ main concern was the possible misuse of samples in the future. These concerns resonated with the HRA, which prohibits the use of broad consent for the collection of samples and data for future unspecified research. The implications of this is that Zambians may not participate in any kind of health research for which the storage, sharing and re-use of data or samples is envisaged. The restrictive nature of HRA means that genomics research may be excluded from future health research collaborations, thus isolating the country from potentially beneficial health research. Some policy makers also worried the samples and data that comes from such research may be difficult to access by local scientists. Conclusion: In this article, we describe the views of Zambian policymakers on genomics research and the capacity of HRA in regulating genomics research. Our findings are relevant for the Zambian audience, and other African countries that are aiming to regulate health research, especially genomics research.

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Expenditures on health research in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey

Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine ◽

10.1177/0141076814530601 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 107 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. 77-84

Author(s):

Derege Kebede ◽

Chris Zielinski ◽

Peter Ebongue Mbondji ◽

Issa Sanou ◽

Wenceslas Kouvividila ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Research ◽

African Countries ◽

Sub Saharan

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Institutional facilities in national health research systems in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey

Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine ◽

10.1177/0141076813517680 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 107 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. 96-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Derege Kebede ◽

Chris Zielinski ◽

Peter Ebongue Mbondji ◽

Issa Sanou ◽

Wenceslas Kouvividila ◽

...

Keyword(s):

National Health ◽

Health Research ◽

African Countries ◽

Research Systems ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Health Research Systems

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Crowdsourcing Covid-19 signals in sub-Saharan Africa: Leveraging digital contributor networks for participatory surveillance of Covid-19 symptoms and deaths (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.26347 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ngozi A Erondu ◽

Sagal A Ali ◽

Mohamed Ali ◽

Schadrac C Agbla

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Specific Information ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Health Seeking ◽

African Countries ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Local Networks ◽

The World ◽

Sub Saharan

BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa, underreporting of cases and deaths has been attributed to various factors including, weak disease surveillance, low health-seeking behaviour of flu like symptoms, and stigma of Covid-19. There is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spread mimics transmission patterns of other countries across the world. Since the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way research can be conducted and in light of restrictions on travel and risks to in-person data collection, innovative approaches to collecting data must be considered. Nearly 50% of Africa’s population is a unique mobile subscriber and it is one of the fastest growing smart-phone marketplaces in the world; hence, mobile phone platforms should be considered to monitor Covid-19 trends in the community. OBJECTIVE We demonstrate the use of digital contributor platforms to survey individuals about cases of flu-like symptoms and instances of unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. METHODS Rapid cross-sectional survey of individuals with severe flu and pneumonia symptoms and unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Zimbabwe RESULTS Using a non-health specific information platform, we found COVID-19 signals in five African countries, specifically: •Across countries, nearly half of the respondents (n=739) knew someone who had severe flu or pneumonia symptoms in recent months. •One in three respondents from Somalia and one in five from Zimbabwe respondents said they knew more than five people recently displaying flu and/or pneumonia symptoms. •In Somalia there were signals that a large number of people might be dying outside of health facilities, specifically in their homes or in IDP or refugee camps. CONCLUSIONS Existing digital contributor platforms with local networks are a non-traditional data source that can provide information from the community to supplement traditional government surveillance systems and academic surveys. We demonstrate that using these distributor networks to for community surveys can provide periodic information on rumours but could also be used to capture local sentiment to inform public health decision-making; for example, these insights could be useful to inform strategies to increase confidence in Covid19 vaccine. As Covid-19 continues to spread somewhat silently across sub-Saharan Africa, regional and national public health entities should consider expanding event-based surveillance sources to include these systems.

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Managing African Urbanization in the Context of Environmental Change

INTERdisciplina ◽

10.22201/ceiich.24485705e.2014.2.46528 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Shuaib Lwasa

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Economic Growth ◽

Social Services ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Urban Governance ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

African Countries ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Urbanization Rate ◽

Development And Management

Africa’s urbanization rate has increased steadily over the past three decades and is reported to be faster than in any other region in the world . It is estimated that by 2030, over half of the African population will be living in urban areas . But the nature of Africa’s urbanization and subsequent form of cities is yet to be critically analyzed in the context of city authorities’ readiness to address the challenges . Evidence is also suggesting that urbanization in African countries is increasingly associated with the high economic growth that has been observed in the last two decades . Both underlying and proximate drivers are responsible for the urbanization, and these include population dynamics, economic growth, legislative designation, increasing densities in rural centers, as well as the growth of mega cities such as Lagos, Cairo and Kinshasa, that are extending to form urban corridors . With the opportunities of urbanization in Sub–Saharan Africa, there are also challenges in the development and management of these cities . Those challenges include provision of social services, sustainable economic development, housing development, urban governance, spatial development guidance and environmental management, climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction . The challenge involves dealing with the development and infrastructure deficit, in addition to required adaption to and mitigation of climate change . This paper examines the current state of urban management in Africa .

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Monetary Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa

10.1093/oso/9780198785811.001.0001 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Monetary Policy ◽

Low Income ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

African Countries ◽

Policy Regimes ◽

Export Prices ◽

Policy Work ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Policy Guidance

Having broadly stabilized inflation over the past two decades, many policymakers in sub-Saharan Africa are now asking more of their monetary policy frameworks. They are looking to avoid policy misalignments and respond appropriately to both domestic and external shocks, including swings in fiscal policy and spikes in food and export prices. In many cases they are finding current regimes—often characterized as ‘money targeting’—lacking, with opaque and sometimes inconsistent objectives, inadequate transmission of policy to the economy, and difficulties in responding to supply shocks. At the same time, little existing research on monetary policy is targeted to low-income countries. What do we know about the empirics of monetary transmission in low-income countries? (How) Does monetary policy work in countries characterized by a huge share of food in consumption, underdeveloped financial markets, and opaque policy regimes? (How) Can we use methods largely derived in advanced countries to answer these questions? And (how) can we use the results to guide policymakers? This book draws on years of research and practice at the IMF and in central banks from the region to shed empirical and theoretical light on these questions and to provide practical tools and policy guidance. A key feature of the book is the application of dynamic general equilibrium models, suitably adapted to reflect key features of low-income countries, for the analysis of monetary policy in sub-Saharan African countries.

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Financing Energy Access in Africa

10.1093/oso/9780198819837.003.0006 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Peter Kayode Oniemola ◽

Jane Ezirigwe

Keyword(s):

Oil And Gas ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Capital Investments ◽

Energy Access ◽

African Countries ◽

Sustainable Technologies ◽

Energy Technologies ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Diesel Motors

To achieve universal energy access will attract huge capital investments. If sub-Saharan Africa is to realize anything close to the ambitious goals set for its energy access, then new actors, innovative funding mechanisms and sustainable technologies will have to be attracted. Finance is needed for activities such as rural electrification, clean cooking facilities, diesel motors and generators, other renewable energy technologies, oil and gas infrastructures, etc. Finance is also needed in research and development of suitable technologies and funding options as well as investment in the capacity to formulate and implement sound energy policies. This chapter examines the varied financing options for energy access in sub-Saharan Africa. It argues that with appropriate laws in place and effective mechanism for implementation, African countries can significantly engage private sector financing, international financial institutions and foreign donors. The role of the law here will be in creating an enabling environment for financing.

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