Evaluation of Activities and Operations of Institutional Health Research Ethics Committees in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Background

Health Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) in Nigeria have increased in number in recent years but limited reports exist about their operations and activities. This study evaluated the HRECs in Southeast region of Nigeria to shed light on their functionality and standards.

Methods

All identifiable HRECs in Southeast Nigeria were surveyed with questionnaires. Data collected were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25 and the results were expressed as frequencies and percentages.

Result

Southeast Nigeria has 42 institutions expected by Nigerian law to have HRECs and 22 of 23 identifiable HRECs in these institutions responded to the survey. Eight of the 22 (36.4%) were registered with the regulatory body in Nigeria, six (27.3%) have FWA with the OHRP, 11 (50%) require training as precondition for membership and 8 (36.4%) require in-service training. Continuing oversight is done by 14 (63.6%) HRECs including site visits by 4 (28.6%). Application fees for ethics review are the only source of funds for 14 (63.6%) HRECs.

Conclusion

More HRECs are needed in southeast Nigeria but greater emphasis should be on upgrading and standardizing existing ones.

Keywords

health research ethics committees Southeast Nigeria

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

African-Bioethics-Consortium. (2017). Research Ethics Committee Assessment Toolkit (RECAT). Version 1.0.

Ángeles-Llerenas

Thrasher

J. F.

Domínguez-Esponda

López-Ridaura

Macklin

(2022). Operation of research ethics committees in Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico: Mesoamerican project. Public Health of Mexico, 64(1), 66–67.

FIC. (2023). Celebrating 55 years of advancing science for global health. Retrieved June 30, 2025, from https://www.fic.nih.gov/News/Pages/fogarty-international-center-55-years-advancing-science-global-health.aspx (accessed ).

Kass

N. E.

Hyder

A. A.

Ajuwon

Appiah-Poku

Barsdorf

Elsayed

D. E.

Mokhachane

Mupenda

Ndebele

Ndossi

Sikateyo

Tangwa

Tindana

(2007). The structure and function of research ethics committees in Africa: A case study. PLoS Medicine, 4(1), e3. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0040003

Moodley

Myer

(2007). Health research ethics committees in South Africa 12 years into democracy. BMC Medical Ethics, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6939-8-1

Nigeria

(2007) National code of health research ethics. In: FMoHo

Nigeria

(ed). Abuja, Nigeria.

Nwaerema

Edokpa

(2019). Regional assessment of population and warming of a tropical country, Nigeria, from 2006 to 2036. Environmental and Earth Sciences Research Journal, 6(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.18280/eesrj.060101

Nyika

Kilama

Chilengi

Tangwa

Tindana

Ndebele

Ikingura

(2009). Composition, training needs and independence of ethics review committees across Africa: Are the gate-keepers rising to the emerging challenges? Journal of Medical Ethics, 35(3), 189–193. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.2008.025189

Rivera

Ezcurra

(2001). Composition and operation of selected research ethics review committees in Latin America. IRB: Ethics and Human Research, 23(5), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.2307/3564049

10.

Singer

Levine

F. J.

(2003). Protection of human subjects of research: Recent developments and future prospects for the social sciences. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 67(1), 148–164. https://doi.org/10.1086/346013

11.

Singh

(2009). Procedures & operations of Institutional Ethics Committees in public sector hospitals in Delhi, India. The Indian Journal of Medical Research, 130(5), 568–569.

12.

Sleem

El-Kamary

S. S.

Silverman

H. J.

(2010). Identifying structures, processes, resources and needs of research ethics committees in Egypt. BMC Medical Ethics, 11(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6939-11-12

13.

Stark

(2012). Behind Closed Doors: IRBs and the Making of Ethical Research. University of Chicago Press.

14.

Stephen

(2000). Where proﬁt and lives Hang in balance. Washington Post, December 17, 2000.

15.

Theron

Barkhuizen

Du Plessis

(2014). Managing the academic talent void: Investigating factors in academic turnover and retention in South Africa. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 40(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v40i1.1117

16.

Umeora

O. U. J.

(2010). Organisational Structure, Operations and Training Needs of Research Ethics Committees in Southeast Nigeria [MPH Thesis], University of Pretoria.

17.

WMA. (1975). WMA declaration of Helsinki – ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. Retrieved July 24, 2023, from https://www.wma.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/DoH-Oct1975.pdf

18.

World Health Organization. Product R and Development T. (2000). Operational guidelines for ethics committees that review biomedical research. World Health Organization.

19.

Yakubu

Adebamowo

C. A.

(2012). Implementing national system of health research ethics regulations: The Nigerian experience. BEOnline, 1(1), 4–15.

20.

Yakubu

A. A.

Hyder

A. A.

Ali

Kass

(2017). Research ethics committees in Nigeria: A survey of operations, functions, and needs. IRB: Ethics & Human Research, 39(3), 11–19.