Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41810005›Full record

ArticleJournal of public health in Africa2026

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

Alemseged Abdissa, Solomon M Abay, Akililu Alemu Ashuro, Derbew Fikadu Berhe, Tseday Tilahun Degafa, Nchangwi Syntia Munung, Godfrey B Tangwa, Juntra Karbwang, Yimtubezinash Woldeamanuel

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Article in Journal of public health in Africa, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Alemseged AbdissaArmauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6871-1958
Solomon M AbayCollege of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7844-3771
Akililu Alemu AshuroArmauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2282-361X
Derbew Fikadu BerheCollege of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0669-9241
Tseday Tilahun DegafaArmauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3213-2348
Nchangwi Syntia MunungDepartment of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1498-3602
Godfrey B TangwaCameroon Bioethics Initiative, Yaounde, Cameroon.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0062-8108
Juntra KarbwangInstitute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2107-7173
Yimtubezinash WoldeamanuelCollege of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6606-8903

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: 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. Aim: To delineate the activities of African RECs and pinpoint challenges encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting: The study was conducted across multiple RECs in various African countries. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted across multiple African countries to provide an overview of the functioning of RECs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Chairs reported a substantial increase in protocol reviews, from 5860 in 2019 to a 12% ( Conclusion: 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. Contribution: 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.

Indexed as

AfricaCOVID-19PABINresearch ethics committeeSIDCER

Identifiers

PMID41810005
PMCPMC12969500

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.