PLoS ONE (Jan 2022)

Biological sample donation and informed consent for neurobiobanking: Evidence from a community survey in Ghana and Nigeria.

  • Arti Singh,
  • Oyedunni Arulogun,
  • Joshua Akinyemi,
  • Michelle Nichols,
  • Benedict Calys-Tagoe,
  • Babatunde Ojebuyi,
  • Carolyn Jenkins,
  • Reginald Obiako,
  • Albert Akpalu,
  • Fred Sarfo,
  • Kolawole Wahab,
  • Adeniyi Sunday,
  • Lukman F Owolabi,
  • Muyiwa Adigun,
  • Ibukun Afolami,
  • Olorunyomi Olorunsogbon,
  • Mayowa Ogunronbi,
  • Ezinne Sylvia Melikam,
  • Ruth Laryea,
  • Shadrack Asibey,
  • Wisdom Oguike,
  • Lois Melikam,
  • Abdullateef Sule,
  • Musibau A Titiloye,
  • Isah Suleiman Yahaya,
  • Abiodun Bello,
  • Rajesh N Kalaria,
  • Ayodele Jegede,
  • Mayowa Owolabi,
  • Bruce Ovbiagele,
  • Rufus Akinyemi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267705
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 8
p. e0267705

Abstract

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IntroductionGenomic research and neurobiobanking are expanding globally. Empirical evidence on the level of awareness and willingness to donate/share biological samples towards the expansion of neurobiobanking in sub-Saharan Africa is lacking.AimsTo ascertain the awareness, perspectives and predictors regarding biological sample donation, sharing and informed consent preferences among community members in Ghana and Nigeria.MethodsA questionnaire cross-sectional survey was conducted among randomly selected community members from seven communities in Ghana and Nigeria.ResultsOf the 1015 respondents with mean age 39.3 years (SD 19.5), about a third had heard of blood donation (37.2%, M: 42.4%, F: 32.0%, p = 0.001) and a quarter were aware of blood sample storage for research (24.5%; M: 29.7%, F: 19.4%, p = 0.151). Two out of ten were willing to donate brain after death (18.8%, M: 22.6%, F: 15.0%, pConclusionThere is a greater need for research attention in the area of brain banking and informed consent. Improved context-sensitive public education on neurobiobanking and informed consent, in line with the sociocultural diversities, is recommended within the African sub region.