title: Health research ethics review and needs of institutional ethics committees in Tanzania.
abstract: This study was undertaken to describe the performance of health research ethics review procedures of six research centres in Tanzania. Data collection was done through a self-administered questionnaire and personal interviews. The results showed that there were on average 11 members (range = 8-14) in each Research Ethic Committee. However, female representation in the committees was low (15.2%). The largest proportion of the committee members was biomedical scientists (51.5%). Others included medical doctors (19.7%), social scientists (7.6%), laboratory technologists (10.6%), religious leaders (4.5%), statisticians (3.0%), teachers (1.5%) and lawyers (1.5). Committee members had different capacities to carry out review of research proposals (no capacity = 2%; limited capacity = 15%; moderate capacity = 20%; good capacity = 48%, excellent capacity = 13%). Only half of the respondents had prior ethics review training. Although the majority deemed that ethical guidelines were very important (66%), there were challenges in the use of ethical guidelines which included lack of awareness on the national accreditation mechanisms for ethics committee (59%). Adherence to ethical principles and regulations was influenced by being a scientist (OR = 42.47), being an employee of a professional organization (OR = 15.25), and having an interests in the use of ethical guidelines (OR = 10.85) These findings indicate the need for capacity strengthening (through training and resource support), inclusion of more female representation and other mandatory professions to the research ethics committees.
authors: National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. jikingura@nimr.or.tz
authors: J K B
authors: JK
authors: Ikingura
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kruger
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Zeleke
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania