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Community perspectives on research consent involving vulnerable children in Western Kenya

Rachel Vreeman1, Eunice Kamaara, Allan Kamanda

  • 1Indiana University, 107 S. Indiana Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405-7000, USA. rvreeman@iupui.edu

Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics : JERHRE
|October 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Community members in Kenya generally support involving children in health research, believing it benefits them. However, they prioritize parental consent over child assent and suggest community involvement in ethical decision-making for vulnerable children.

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Bioethics
  • Pediatric Research

Background:

  • International research involving children necessitates culturally sensitive ethical frameworks.
  • Understanding community perspectives is crucial for ethical pediatric research participation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore community views on child participation in health research in western Kenya.
  • To understand local perspectives on informed consent and assent processes for pediatric research.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized mabaraza (traditional East African community assemblies) for data collection.
  • Engaged 108 community participants in discussions regarding child research participation.

Main Results:

  • Positive community attitudes towards involving children in research, driven by perceived direct benefits.
  • Parental/guardian consent deemed essential; child assent was not considered necessary.
  • Community members suggested shared decision-making involving caregivers, leaders, and assemblies.
  • Special consent processes were recommended for research involving orphans and street children.

Conclusions:

  • Community engagement through mabaraza provides valuable insights into ethical considerations for pediatric research.
  • Existing cultural frameworks can inform the development of culturally appropriate ethical protections for vulnerable child populations in research.
  • Adapting consent processes to community norms is vital for ethical international research involving children.

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