Race in health research: Considerations for researchers and research ethics committees

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Published: May 8, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.2023.v16i1.440

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W Van Staden
a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:75:"Centre for Ethics and Philosophy of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria";}
A Nienaber
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
T Rossouw
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
A Turner
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
C Filmalter
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
A E Mercier
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
J G Nel
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
B Bapela
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
M M Beetge
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
R Blumenthal
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
C D V Castelyn
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
T W de Witt
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
A G Dlagnekova
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
C Kotze
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
J S Mangwane
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
L Napoles
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
R Sommers
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
L Sykes
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
W B van Zyl
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
M Venter
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
A Uys
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa
N Warren
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract





This article provides ethical guidance on using race in health research as a variable or in defining the study population. To this end, a plain, non-exhaustive checklist is provided for researchers and research ethics committees, preceded by a brief introduction on the need for justification when using race as a variable or in defining a study population, the problem of exoticism, that distinctions pertain between race, ethnicity and ancestry, the problematic naming of races, and that race does not serve well as a presumed biological construct in genetic research.





Article Details

How to Cite
Race in health research: Considerations for researchers and research ethics committees. (2023). South African Journal of Bioethics and Law, 16(1), 9-12. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.2023.v16i1.440
Issue
Vol. 16 No. 1 (2023)
Section
Research Articles
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How to Cite

Race in health research: Considerations for researchers and research ethics committees. (2023). South African Journal of Bioethics and Law, 16(1), 9-12. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.2023.v16i1.440

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