COVID-19 and ethics in action: Insights from African research committees

Research ethics committees (RECs) in Africa face challenges, including inadequate institutional support, low member engagement, and limited ethical review capacity. The COVID-19 pandemic added another layer of pressure on RECs.

To delineate the activities of African RECs and pinpoint challenges encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study was conducted across multiple RECs in various African countries.

This cross-sectional study was conducted across multiple African countries to provide an overview of the functioning of RECs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairs reported a substantial increase in protocol reviews, from 5860 in 2019 to a 12% (n = 744) increment in 2020. Amid the pandemic, there was a noticeable rise in research protocol amendments (79%, n = 38) and deviations. The vast majority of RECs (96%, n = 46) adhered to COVID-19 prevention institutional policies and limited face-to-face meetings. Challenges encountered in reviewing COVID-19-related proposals were linked to risk and/or benefit assessments and scientific designs.

The study underscores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on REC functioning in Africa, marked by a surge in proposal volumes and the emergence of new ethical challenges. To address these challenges, there is a pressing need to nurture RECs in the region through diverse strategies, including capacity-building initiatives such as the Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethical Review (SIDCER) recognition programme. Additionally, establishing periodic training opportunities through suitable platforms can further enhance the resilience and effectiveness of RECs.

This study contributes to understanding how RECs in African countries adapted their review processes during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for establishing periodic training opportunities through suitable platforms.