| dc.description.abstract |
The universal principles of biomedical ethics provide overall guidance which are applicable to all settings. However, the range of ethical issues present in different communities differs subject to variations in ethno-cultural contexts. Rapid Ethical Assessment (REA) is an approach developed to improve context-tailored application of the informed consent process in low-income settings. The tool employs ethnographic and action research techniques to explore and address context specific ethical issues. However, information is lacking on its feasibility and applicability for wide-scale use. This study aimed to explore the need for REA and establish its usefulness for research in Ethiopia and similar settings. The study also aimed to assess feasibility of REA so as to provide further guidance on strategies for its future application. Methods: Pilot REA studies were conducted in three different research projects, 'parent studies', in Ethiopia between 2012 and 2013. The studies employed a range of study designs with multi-disciplinary approach and were conducted in multi-ethnic and multi-cultural settings in Ethiopia. The study disciplines employed ranged from ethics, social science and anthropology to public health. |
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