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Ogunrin O, Woolfall K, Gabbay M, Frith L. Relative solidarity: Conceptualising communal participation in genomic research among potential research participants in a developing Sub-Saharan African setting. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195171. [PMID: 29621313 PMCID: PMC5886479 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective As genomic research gathers momentum in sub-Saharan Africa, it has become increasingly important to understand the reasons why individuals wish to participate in this kind of medical research. Against the background of communitarianism conceived as typical of African communities, it is often suggested that individuals consent to participate on the grounds of solidarity and to further the common good. In this paper, we seek to explore this contention by presenting data from focus groups with potential research participants about what would influence their decisions to participate in genomic research. Methods and results These focus groups were conducted as part of a larger qualitative study with a purposively selected group of participants from a community situated in south west Nigeria. We conducted fifteen focus group sessions comprising 50 participants organized by age and sex, namely: 1) adult (>30 years) males, 2) adult females, 3) youth (18–30 years) males, and 4) youth females. A mixed age-group was conducted to probe different views between the age groups. There was discordance and clear division between the adults and youths regarding the decision to participate in genomic research based on commitment to communal values. Adults based their decision to participate on altruism and furthering the common good while youths based their decisions on personal benefits and preferences and also took into account the views and welfare of family members and neighbours. Conclusions This discordance suggests a ‘generational shift’ and we advance a model of ‘relative solidarity’ among the youths, which is different from the communal solidarity model typical of African communitarianism. Our findings suggest the need for a closer look at strategies for implementation of community engagement and informed consent in genomic research in this region, and we recommend further studies to explore this emerging trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olubunmi Ogunrin
- Department of Medicine, University of Benin, PMB, Benin City, Nigeria
- Biomedical Ethics Research Group, Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Kerry Woolfall
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Gabbay
- Biomedical Ethics Research Group, Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Frith
- Biomedical Ethics Research Group, Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Mayne ES, Croxton T, Abimiku A, Joloba M, Kyobe S, Beiswanger CM, Wideroff L, Guyer M, Troyer J, Kader M, H3Africa Biorepository Working Grou. Genes for Life: Biobanking for Genetic Research in Africa. Biopreserv Biobank 2017. [PMCID: PMC5397245 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2017.0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Sarah Mayne
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haemotology, University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Talishiea Croxton
- Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Alash'le Abimiku
- Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | | | | | | | | | - Mark Guyer
- National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Mukthar Kader
- Clinical Laboratory Services, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Croxton T, Swanepoel C, Musinguzi H, Kader M, Ozumba P, Pillay AD, Syed R, Swartz G, Kyobe S, Lwanga N, Katabazi FA, Edgar K, Ndidi A, Jonathan E, Onyemata E, Isaacs S, Mayne ES, Joloba M, Jentsch U, Abayomi A, Abimiku A, Troyer J, Penno S, H3Africa Biorepository PI Committee. Lessons Learned from Biospecimen Shipping Among the Human Heredity and Health in Africa Biorepositories. Biopreserv Biobank 2017. [DOI: 10.1089/bio.2017.0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Talishiea Croxton
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Carmen Swanepoel
- Division of Haematology, National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Henry Musinguzi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mukthar Kader
- Clinical Laboratory Services-Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Petronilla Ozumba
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Azure-Dee Pillay
- Clinical Laboratory Services-Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Raeesa Syed
- Clinical Laboratory Services-Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Garth Swartz
- Clinical Laboratory Services-Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Samuel Kyobe
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Newton Lwanga
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Fred Ashaba Katabazi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Kigozi Edgar
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Agala Ndidi
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Emmanuel Jonathan
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Enzenwa Onyemata
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Shafieka Isaacs
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | | | - Moses Joloba
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ute Jentsch
- Clinical Laboratory Services-Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Akin Abayomi
- Division of Haematology, National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Alash'le Abimiku
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jennifer Troyer
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sue Penno
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland
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Matimba A, Tybring G, Chitereka J, Zinyama-Gutsire R, Dandara C, Bürén E, Dhoro M, Masimirembwa C. Practical Approach to Biobanking in Zimbabwe: Establishment of an Inclusive Stakeholder Framework. Biopreserv Biobank 2016; 14:440-446. [DOI: 10.1089/bio.2015.0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Matimba
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Gunnel Tybring
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Collet Dandara
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Eva Bürén
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Milcah Dhoro
- African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Wilkins Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Collen Masimirembwa
- African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Wilkins Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe
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Dandara C, Huzair F, Borda-Rodriguez A, Chirikure S, Okpechi I, Warnich L, Masimirembwa C. H3Africa and the African life sciences ecosystem: building sustainable innovation. OMICS 2015; 18:733-9. [PMID: 25454511 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2014.0145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Interest in genomics research in African populations is experiencing exponential growth. This enthusiasm stems in part from the recognition that the genomic diversity of African populations is a window of opportunity for innovations in postgenomics medicine, ecology, and evolutionary biology. The recently launched H3Africa initiative, for example, captures the energy and momentum of this interest. This interdisciplinary socio-technical analysis highlights the challenges that have beset previous genomics research activities in Africa, and looking ahead, suggests constructive ways H3Africa and similar large scale science efforts could usefully chart a new era of genomics and life sciences research in Africa that is locally productive and globally competitive. As independent African scholars and social scientists, we propose that any serious global omics science effort, including H3Africa, aiming to build genomics research capacity and capability in Africa, needs to fund the establishment of biobanks and the genomic analyses platforms within Africa. Equally they need to prioritize community engagement and bioinformatics capability and the training of African scientists on these platforms. Historically, the financial, technological, and skills imbalance between Africa and developed countries has created exploitative frameworks of collaboration where African researchers have become merely facilitators of Western funded and conceived research agendas involving offshore expatriation of samples. Not surprisingly, very little funding was allocated to infrastructure and human capital development in the past. Moving forward, capacity building should materialize throughout the entire knowledge co-production trajectory: idea generation (e.g., brainstorming workshops for innovative hypotheses development by African scientists), data generation (e.g., genome sequencing), and high-throughput data analysis and contextualization. Additionally, building skills for political science scholarship that questions the unchecked assumptions of the innovation performers be they funders, scientists, and social scientists, would enable collective innovation that is truly sustainable, ethical, and robust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collet Dandara
- 1 Pharmacogenetics Research Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town , South Africa
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Chima SC, Mduluza T, Kipkemboi J. Viewpoint discrimination and contestation of ideas on its merits, leadership and organizational ethics: expanding the African bioethics agenda. BMC Med Ethics 2013; 14 Suppl 1:S1. [PMID: 24564890 PMCID: PMC3878212 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6939-14-s1-s1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The 3rd Pan-African Ethics Human Rights and Medical Law (3rd EHRML) conference was held in Johannesburg on July 7, 2013, as part of the Africa Health Congress. The conference brought together bioethicists, researchers and scholars from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria working in the field of bioethics as well as students and healthcare workers interested in learning about ethical issues confronting the African continent. The conference which ran with a theme of "Bioethical and legal perspectives in biomedical research and medical practice in Africa with a focus on: Informed consent, HIV-AIDS & Tuberculosis, leadership & organizational ethics, patients and healthcare workers rights," was designed to expand the dialogue on African bioethics beyond the traditional focus on research ethics and the ethical dilemmas surrounding the conduct of biomedical research in developing countries. This introductory article highlights some of areas of focus at the conference including issues of leadership, organizational ethics and patients and healthcare workers rights in Africa. We analyze the importance of free speech, public debate of issues, argumentation and the need to introduce the teaching and learning of ethics to students in Africa in accordance with UNESCO guidelines. This article also focuses on other challenges confronting Africa today from an ethical standpoint, including the issues of poor leadership and organizational ethics which are main contributors to the problems prevalent in African countries, such as poverty, poor education and healthcare delivery systems, terrorism, social inequities, infrastructural deficits and other forms of 'structural violence' confronting vulnerable African communities. We believe that each of the eight articles included in this supplement, which have been rigorously peer-reviewed are a good example of current research on bioethics in Africa, and explore some new directions towards broadening the African bioethics agenda as we move forward to a new dawn for Africa in the 21st century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester C Chima
- Programme of Bio & Research Ethics and Medical Law, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine & School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban, South Africa
| | - Takafira Mduluza
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Julius Kipkemboi
- Department of Biological Sciences and the UNESCO Regional Center for Documentation and Research on Bioethics, Egerton University, P.O Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya
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