Community advisory structure in African clinical trials: A registry-based analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66040/zrxtpx51Keywords:
Africa, Clinical trialsAbstract
Clinical trials in Africa rarely report formal community-engagement structures, raising questions about the extent to which research is locally driven. This analysis reviewed 23,873 African interventional trial using ClinicalTrial.gov text field to identify explicit participatory approaches throughout March 2026. Only 203 African trials (0.9%) reported formal community advisory structures, compared to 1,960 (1.0%) in the United States 1. Despite this low proportion, engagement trials demonstrated better completion and longer follow-up than non-engagement trials, suggesting community engagement methods improve research sustainability. Community advisory boards were most common in HIV research programs, with 1,793 out of 8,496 global HIV trials (21.1%) conducted in Africa, reflecting PEPFAR-supported engagement requirements 2. These findings suggest promising approaches to ethical clinical research emerging and focus on the actual health needs of the community 3. Although the findings may not capture the full picture as the keyword method may underestimate informal community engagement, the findings support a shift toward collaborative, community-driven research.
References
1. Drain PK, Parker RA, Robine M, Holmes KK, Bassett IV. Global migration of clinical research during the era of trial registration. PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0192413. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0192413
2. Pancras G, Sunguya BF, Sirili N, Balandya E, Lyamuya E, Mmbaga BT. The role of community advisory boards in community-based HIV clinical trials: a qualitative study from Tanzania. BMC Med Ethics. 2022;23(1):1. doi:10.1186/s12910-021-00737-w
3. Zhao Y, Fitzpatrick T, Wan B, Day S, Mathews A, Tucker JD. Forming and implementing community advisory boards in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review. BMC Med Ethics. 2019;20(1):73. doi:10.1186/s12910-019-0409-3
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- 2026-06-16 (2)
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jacob Muruhukye, James Mukiibi, PETER EBOT EYONG, Spritney Nashua Ninpa , Christopher Tibamwenda, Meldwinel Ayuk , Vahid Esangaya Ntoung-Mbi , Endurance Lum Ambe, Rhoda Chikula, Paul Brian Mukisa, Grace Kemigisha , Gloria Margaret Nanono , Geofrey Emesu , Muhammad Murtala Yusuf, Ronald Bwambale Ronald, Janepher Nabaasa , Nwanja Ebere Olive, Prossy Nabateregga
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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