(A119) Ethical Issues in the Review and Conduct of Research during Active Conflicts: Reflections from Darfur, West Sudan

Autor: Ghaiath M A Hussein
Rok vydání: 2011
Předmět:
Zdroj: Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 26:s33-s34
ISSN: 1945-1938
1049-023X
DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x11001208
Popis: A crisis has been evolving in the region of Darfur following an armed conflict between rebel groups and the assumingly government-supported militia in 2003. It has attracted international attention and intervention where 13 UN agencies and around 100 national and international non-governmental organizations have been serving the affected populations. Research as methodological means of data collection is crucial to timely assessment of the affected populations' needs before humanitarian interventions, raising fund to fulfil these needs, and to assess the effects of the humanitarian aids that have been delivered. However, the factors of (1) insecurity; (2) limited resources; (3) vulnerability of the population; and (4) the potential cultural and moral differences among researchers and the surveyed populations make the research process methodologically and ethically challenging. The aim of this paper is to present the effects of these factors on the ethical review and implementation of research, with emphasis on the issues of benefit-risk analysis, conflict of interests, and informed consent. A practical framework for the ethical review that responds to the need of timely provision of information as well as promoting the adherence to the international ethical principles also will be provided.
Databáze: OpenAIRE