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Perceptions of consent, permission structures and approaches to the community: a rapid ethical assessment performed in North West Cameroon

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posted on 2023-06-08, 20:05 authored by Jonas A Kengne-Ouafo, Theobald M Nji, William F Tantoh, Doris N Nyoh, Nicholas Tendongfor, Peter A Enyong, Melanie NewportMelanie Newport, Gail DaveyGail Davey, Samuel Wanji
BACKGROUND Understanding local contextual factors is important when conducting international collaborative studies in low-income country settings. Rapid ethical assessment (a brief qualitative intervention designed to map the ethical terrain of a research setting prior to recruitment of participants), has been used in a range of research-naïve settings. We used rapid ethical assessment to explore ethical issues and challenges associated with approaching communities and gaining informed consent in North West Cameroon. METHODS This qualitative study was carried out in two health districts in the North West Region of Cameroon between February and April 2012. Eleven focus group discussions (with a total of 107 participants) were carried out among adult community members, while 72 in-depth interviews included health workers, non-government organisation staff and local community leaders. Data were collected in English and pidgin, translated where necessary into English, transcribed and coded following themes. RESULTS Many community members had some understanding of informed consent, probably through exposure to agricultural research in the past. Participants described a centralised permission-giving structure in their communities, though there was evidence of some subversion of these structures by the educated young and by women. Several acceptable routes for approaching the communities were outlined, all including the health centre and the Fon (traditional leader). The importance of time spent in sensitizing the community and explaining information was stressed. CONCLUSIONS Respondents held relatively sophisticated understanding of consent and were able to outline the structures of permission-giving in the community. Although the structures are unique to these communities, the role of certain trusted groups is common to several other communities in Kenya and Ethiopia explored using similar techniques. The information gained through Rapid Ethical Assessment will form an important guide for future studies in North West Cameroon.

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Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

BMC Public Health

ISSN

1471-2458

Publisher

BioMed Central

Volume

14

Page range

1026

Department affiliated with

  • Global Health and Infection Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-02-19

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2015-02-19

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2015-02-19

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