Thesis (MPH)--University of Limpopo, 2010. / Background
The National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) of South Africa (SA) is
mandated to oversee health research ethics activities within the country. The
oversight role is achieved through registration and auditing of Health Research
Ethics committees (RECs). This study indicates that 22 RECs are registered
with the NHREC.
Purpose
This study examines compliance levels of registered RECs with the SA DOH
national health research ethics guidelines regarding composition and
operational procedures as well as highlight commonalities and differences.
Methods
Secondary data of 22 RECs registered with NHREC were used to examine the
level of compliance related to composition and operational procedures
disaggregated by REC. Data were processed using Statistical Package for
Social Scientists (SPSS). Categories of systematic compliance, non-systematic
compliance and non-compliance were used to determine RECs compliance
levels with the standards specified in the DOH national ethics guidelines in
research.
Results
Registered RECs in South Africa have an average membership of 16 ranging
from 6 to 35. The RECs membership on gender has a 6% marginal difference
and is dominated (68%) by scientists or clinicians. Majority (82%) of RECs have
lay persons and 77% legal representatives. Eighty six percent of RECs
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complied with operational procedures as stipulated by DOH national health
research ethics guidelines.
Conclusions
Most RECs in SA registered with NHREC have a functional structure and are
well organized. However, RECs demonstrated a non-systematic compliance
with composition and procedures of DOH national guidelines. Most RECs based
at public hospitals, government department and private organizations
experienced high variations. Disparities related to gender, professional identity,
legal and lay representations are noticeable and could be easily addressed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/222 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Molebatsi, Thabo Isaac |
| Publisher | University of Limpopo ( Medunsa Campus ) |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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