Social Responsibility and Health-Related Social Sciences Research

Abstract

Africa continues to be burdened by widespread poverty and endemic diseases, with huge inequity in accessing healthcare services. Health research in all its forms is essential to address the numerous health systems challenges in Africa, using complementary biomedical and social sciences approaches. There is, however, a risk of exploitation from the traditionally hierarchical, Western world-centred and -funded approach to health research in Africa. Care must therefore be taken to ensure health research, including health-related social sciences research, is ethically sound, responsive to local need and respectful of local cultures and values. This chapter provides a background, history and context to socially responsible and responsive health-related research in the African context. It presents the fundamental ethical principles (beneficence/non-maleficence, respect for persons and justice) for health-related research, and describes how these interface with social responsibility and responsiveness. The roles of Research Ethics Committees in promoting socially responsible and ethically sound health-related research is discussed; and a framework for conducting socially responsible and responsive health-related research in Africa is proposed, applying the principles of “Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)”. RRI encompasses a research approach which explicitly considers the potential impacts of the research on society in a responsible and responsive way. In order to properly address and mitigate the fundamental health concerns throughout Africa, it is essential that a socially responsible and responsive research approach be adopted, considering accepted ethical principles. By including the community as stakeholders, using a participatory RRI model, the specific needs of diverse communities across the continent can be identified and addressed, in a culture of respect, tolerance and mutual responsibility.