AAS Open Research最新文献

{"title":"Detection of <i>Mycobacterium</i> <i>tuberculosis</i> DNA in CD34 ⁺ peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Ugandan adults with latent infection: a cross-sectional and nested prospective study.","authors":"Jonathan Mayito, Irene Andia Biraro, Stephen T Reece, Adrian R Martineau, David P Kateete","doi":"10.12688/aasopenres.13108.1","DOIUrl":"10.12688/aasopenres.13108.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Tuberculin skin test and interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) show limitations in diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and poorly predict progression to active tuberculosis. This study will explore detection of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> ( <i>M.tb</i>) DNA in CD34 ⁺ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as a biomarker for LTBI and monitoring chemoprophylaxis response. <b>Methods:</b> In a cross-sectional study, 120 household contacts (60 HIV positive and 60 HIV negative) will be recruited. Also, 10 patients with sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis and 10 visitors from low incidence countries with no history of TB treatment will be recruited as positive and negative controls, respectively. Participants will donate 100 ml (50 ml for TB patients) of blood to isolate PBMCs using density gradient centrifugation. Isolated PBMCs will be separated into CD34 ⁺ and CD34 ^- enriched cellular fractions. DNA from each fraction will be purified, quantified and subjected to droplet digital PCR targeting <i>IS6110</i> (a <i>M.tb</i> Complex multi-copy gene) and <i>rpoB</i>, a single copy gene. Also, 4 ml of blood will be drawn for IGRA. In a nested prospective study, 60 HIV positive participants will be given 300 mg of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) daily for six months, after which they will donate a second 100 ml blood sample that will be processed as described above. Data from the cross-sectional study will be analysed to determine the proportion of individuals in whom <i>M.tb</i> DNA is detectable in CD34 ⁺ and CD34 ^- fractions and number of <i>M.tb</i> genomes present. Data from the prospective study will be analysed to compare the proportion of individuals with detectable <i>M.tb</i> DNA in CD34 ⁺ and CD34 ^- fractions, and median <i>M.tb</i> genome copy number, post vs pre-IPT. <b>Discussion:</b> This study will determine whether detection of <i>M.tb</i> DNA in CD34 ⁺ PBMCs holds promise as a biomarker for LTBI and monitoring chemoprophylaxis response.</p>","PeriodicalId":34179,"journal":{"name":"AAS Open Research","volume":" ","pages":"34"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7422845/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38294554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Journey of Hope: giving research participants a voice to share their experiences and improve community engagement around advanced HIV disease in Uganda","authors":"F. Cresswell, J. Kasibante, E. Martyn, L. Tugume, G. Stead, Kenneth Ssembambulidde, M. Rutakingirwa, E. Kagimu, Laura Nsangi, Carol Namuju, J. F. Ndyetukira, C. Ahimbisibwe, Florence Kugonza, Alisat Sadiq, Alice Namudde, Joanna Dobbin, Diksha Srishyla, C. Quinn, Mable Kabahubya, C. Muzoora, Stephen Watiti, D. Meya, A. Elliott","doi":"10.12688/aasopenres.13104.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.13104.1","url":null,"abstract":"Over the last decade excellent progress has been made globally in HIV management thanks to antiretroviral therapy (ART) rollout and international guidelines now recommending immediate initiation of ART in people living with HIV. Despite this, advanced HIV disease (CD4 less than 200 cells/mL) and opportunistic infections remain a persistent challenge and contribute significantly to HIV-associated mortality, which equates to 23,000 deaths in Uganda in 2018 alone. Our Meningitis Research Team based in Uganda is committed to conducting clinical trials to answer important questions regarding diagnostics and management of HIV-associated opportunistic infections, including tuberculosis and cryptococcal meningitis. However, clinical research is impossible without research participants and results are meaningless unless they are translated into benefits for those affected by the disease. Therefore, we held a series of community engagement events with the aims of 1) giving research participants a voice to share their experiences of clinical research and messages of hope around advanced HIV disease with the community, 2) dispelling myths and stigma around HIV, and 3) raising awareness about the complications of advanced HIV disease and local clinical research and recent scientific advances. The purpose of this Open Letter is to describe our community engagement experience in Uganda, where we aimed to give clinical research participants a greater voice to share their experiences. These activities build upon decades of work in HIV community engagement and lays a platform for future research and engagement activities.","PeriodicalId":34179,"journal":{"name":"AAS Open Research","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48240843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strengthening research management and support services in sub-Saharan African universities and research institutions.","authors":"J. Pulford, Susie Crossman, Sara Begg, Jessica Amegee Quach, P. Abomo, T. El Hajj, I. Bates","doi":"10.12688/aasopenres.13100.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.13100.1","url":null,"abstract":"Background: International development partners and research councils are increasingly funding research management and support (RMS) capacity strengthening initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as part of a broader investment in strengthening national and regional research systems.  However, the evidence-base to inform RMS capacity strengthening initiatives is limited at present. This research note presents a synthesis of 28 RMS capacity assessments completed in 25 universities/research institutions from across 15 SSA countries between 2014 and 2018.  Methods: All 28 capacity assessments were completed following a standardised methodology consisting of semi-structured interviews conducted with research and research support staff at the respective institution as well as document reviews and observation of onsite facilities. Data were extracted from the 28 reports detailing the findings of each assessment according to a framework synthesis approach. Results: In total, 13 distinct capacity gap categories emerged from across the 28 RMS capacity assessment reports.  Almost all the institutions assessed faced significant gaps in RMS capacity within and across each of these 13 categories. The 13 categories were not independent of each other and were often closely inter-connected. Commonalities were also evident across multiple categories, the two most obvious of which were severe fiscal constraints and the often-complex bureaucracy of the institutional operating environment. Conclusions: The synthesis findings reveal multiple, commonly shared RMS capacity gaps in universities and research institutions across SSA. No single intervention type, or focus, would be sufficient to strengthen capacity across all 13 areas; rather, what is needed to facilitate a significant shift in RMS capacity within such SSA universities and research institutions is a combination of interventions, consisting of differing levels of cost and complexity, variously led (or supported) by both internal and external actors.","PeriodicalId":34179,"journal":{"name":"AAS Open Research","volume":"3 1","pages":"31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66397188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of malaria on haematological parameters of urban, peri-urban and rural residents in the Ashanti region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Abdul-Hakim Mutala, Kingsley Badu, Christian Owusu, Samuel Kekeli Agordzo, Austine Tweneboah, Dawood Ackom Abbas, Matthew Glover Addo","doi":"10.12688/aasopenres.12979.3","DOIUrl":"10.12688/aasopenres.12979.3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> We aimed at investigating the impact of malaria on the haematological parameters of residents from different demographic settlements in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Malaria parasites trigger changes in certain haematological parameters, which may result in a number of clinical manifestations. Differences in demographic settlements, such as rural, peri-urban and urban settlements may also influence these changes, but this has not been extensively studied in Ghana. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study from January to December 2018 in three different settlements. A total of 598 participants were recruited. Blood smears were examined to detect and quantify malaria parasitaemia, while haematological parameters were measured using a haematology analyser. <b>Results:</b> Participants from the rural settlement had the highest malaria prevalence (21.3%) compared to urban (11.8%) and peri-urban areas (13.3%); however, the peri-urban area had the highest median parasite density (568; IQR=190.0-1312.0). Age was significantly associated with the odds of malaria positivity (OR: 0.97; CI:0.96 - 0.99;  <i>p</i>=4.96*10 ^-4). When haematological parameters of the malaria-infected study participants were compared to the parameters of uninfected participants, red blood cell count (p=0.017), haemoglobin (p=0.0165), haematocrit (p=0.0015), mean corpuscular volume (p=0.0014), plateletcrit (p<0.0001) and platelet count (p<0.0001) were all significantly lower in the malaria infected group. In addition to age, haemoglobin and plateletcrit levels were also inversely correlated with the odds of testing positive for malaria, suggesting that children who were anaemic and/or thrombocytopaenic were likely to be infected. After fitting the data to a logistic regression model comprising the three variables, the model correctly categorised 78% of uninfected study participants, but only 50% of the malaria-positive participants. <b>Conclusions:</b> Study participants who were positive for malaria were younger and had low haemoglobin and plateletcrit levels compared to uninfected individuals. Further studies are needed to more precisely elucidate the relationship between malaria infection,demographic and haematological parameters.</p>","PeriodicalId":34179,"journal":{"name":"AAS Open Research","volume":" ","pages":"27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7355218/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38203610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Economic value, endogenous knowledge and distribution of Picralima nitida (Stapf) T. Durand and H. Durand in Africa","authors":"G. C. Akabassi, E. Padonou, Achille Ephrem Assogbajo, Noël Zirihi Guede","doi":"10.12688/aasopenres.13087.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.13087.1","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Picralima nitida (Apocynaceae) is an important African medicinal plant species. It is frequently used in traditional medicine and pharmaceutical industries for manufacture of drugs against infectious diseases, malaria, diabetes and cancer. Despite its important, the species can be rare, especially in the Dahomey Gap (in contrast to the Guineo-Congolese region). There is also a controversy on its distribution. Without knowing the drivers of plant species rarity it is impossible to address the issue of the controversy of its distribution and unsustainable use as well as safeguarding endogenous knowledge of its uses.  Methods: Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in the Dahomey Gap with 120 informants randomly interviewed. A literature review of scientific papers and books was used to provide information on the uses, distribution and threats of the species in the Guineo-Congolese region. Results: The results revealed that P. nitida products were more expensive in the Dahomey Gap than the Guineo-Congolese region. All parts of the species were collected and used for 34 treatments. The species had low density and distribution in Dahomey Gap compared to the Guineo-Congolese region. Conclusions: P. nitida is used across its distribution areas with important economic values. Adapted management strategies are needed for the sustainable use and conservation of the species..","PeriodicalId":34179,"journal":{"name":"AAS Open Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42523741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COVID-19 and the HIV care continuum in Uganda: minimising collateral damage","authors":"E. Kagimu, E. Martyn, J. Gakuru, J. Kasibante, M. Rutakingirwa, Richard Kwizera, K. Ssebambulidde, Darlisha A Williams, J. Ellis, F. Cresswell, D. Meya","doi":"10.12688/aasopenres.13099.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.13099.1","url":null,"abstract":"The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has spread across the world within months of its first description in Wuhan, China in December 2019, resulting in an unprecedented global health emergency. Whilst Europe and North America are the current epicentres of infection, the global health community are preparing for the potential effects of this new disease on the African continent. Modelling studies predict that factors such as  youthful and rural population may be protective in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in the World Health Organisation (WHO) African Region, however, with 220 million infections and 4.6 million hospitalisations predicted in the first year of the pandemic alone, fragile health systems could still be placed under significant strain. Furthermore, subsequent disruptions to the provision of services for people living with HIV, or at risk of acquiring HIV, are predicted to lead to an extra 500,000 adult HIV deaths and a 2-fold increase in mother to child transmission of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020-2021. Ignoring these predictions may have severe consequences and we risk “stepping back in time” in AIDS-related deaths to numbers seen over a decade ago. Reflecting on our current experience of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda, we explore the potential impact of public health measures implemented to mitigate spread of COVID-19 on the HIV care continuum, and suggest areas of focus for HIV services, policy makers and governments to urgently address in order to minimise the collateral damage.","PeriodicalId":34179,"journal":{"name":"AAS Open Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43327387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COVID-19 and food security in Africa: Building more resilient food systems.","authors":"Helena Shilomboleni","doi":"10.12688/aasopenres.13078.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.13078.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of our food systems. Despite increased efficiencies in producing and supplying large volumes of food, our current food systems have generated multiple adverse outcomes comprising high greenhouse gas emissions, persistent hunger, and livelihood stress for farmers around the world. Nowhere else than in Africa have large numbers of people experienced more acutely these adverse shocks emanating from our food systems. Thus, building more resilient African food systems, which take a radical change of direction, is fundamentally a matter of survival. While there is broad consensus around a need for transformational change in food systems, what that entails is not always clear, and there are divergent views amongst experts on how to re-orient research priorities and agricultural solutions in ways that effectively address hunger and inequality while also protecting agrobiodiversity and the environment more broadly. This article engages with this debate and proposes an agricultural research for development agenda in Africa that balances technology transfer with realigning societal values, institutional arrangements, and policy decision-making towards the realization of greater sustainability and inclusive outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":34179,"journal":{"name":"AAS Open Research","volume":" ","pages":"27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7376614/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38220713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Career development for infection and immunity research in Uganda: a decade of experience from the Makerere University - Uganda Virus Research Institute research and training programme.","authors":"Damalie Nakanjako,&nbsp;Flavia Zalwango,&nbsp;Pamela Wairagala,&nbsp;Fiona Luboga,&nbsp;Irene Andia Biraro,&nbsp;Victoria Diana Bukirwa,&nbsp;Mary Gorrethy Mboowa,&nbsp;Steve Cose,&nbsp;Janet Seeley,&nbsp;Alison Elliott","doi":"10.12688/aasopenres.13066.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.13066.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> The Makerere University/Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Centre of Excellence for Infection & Immunity Research and Training (MUII) is a collaborative programme supporting excellence in Infection and Immunity (I&I) research in Uganda. Set up in 2008, MUII aims to produce internationally competitive Ugandan and East African I&I research leaders, and develop human and infrastructural resources to support research and training excellence. We undertook an internal evaluation of MUII's achievements, challenges and lessons learned between 08-2008 and 12-2019, to inform programmes seeking to build Africa's health research expertise. <b>Methods:</b> Quantitative data were abstracted from programme annual reports. Qualitative data were obtained in 03-04/2019: a cross-sectional evaluation was undertaken among a purposefully selected representative sample of 27 trainees and two programme staff. Qualitative data was analysed according to pre-determined themes of achievements, challenges, lessons learned and recommendations for improvement. <b>Results:</b> By 12-2019, MUII had supported 68 fellowships at master's-level and above (50% female: 23 Masters, 27 PhD, 15 post-doctoral, three group-leaders) and over 1,000 internships. Fellows reported career advancement, mentorship by experts, and improved research skills and outputs. Fellows have published over 300 papers, secured grants worth over £20m, established over 40 international collaborations, and taken on research and academic leadership positions in the country. Key lessons were: i) Efficient administration provides a conducive environment for high quality research; ii) Institutions need supportive policies for procurement, including provisions for purchases of specific biological research reagents from international manufacturers; iii) Strong international and multi-disciplinary collaboration provides a critical mass of expertise to mentor researchers in development; and iv) Mentorship catalyses young scientists to progress from graduate trainees to productive academic researchers, relevant to society's most pressing health challenges. <b>Conclusions:</b> Sustainable academic productivity can be achieved through efficient operational support, global collaboration and mentorship to provide solutions to Africa's health challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":34179,"journal":{"name":"AAS Open Research","volume":" ","pages":"26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7372530/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38400275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seroprevalence, risk factors and impact of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infection on haematological parameters in the Ashanti region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Samuel Kekeli Agordzo, Kingsley Badu, Mathew Glover Addo, Christian Kwasi Owusu, Abdul-Hakim Mutala, Austine Tweneboah, Dawood Ackom Abbas, Nana Kwame Ayisi-Boateng","doi":"10.12688/aasopenres.13022.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/aasopenres.13022.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate, intracellular, apicomplexan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. Although the global prevalence of toxoplasmosis has been estimated to be approximately 30%, there is limited seroprevalence data in Ghana, with a dearth of information on the impact of T. gondii on haematological parameters in exposed persons. <b>Methods:</b> Questionnaires were administered to 300 consenting individuals to obtain demographic information and assessment of their risk of exposure to <i>T. gondii</i>. Using anti- <i>T. gondii</i> IgG/IgM combo test kits, seropositivity to parasite-specific IgG and/or IgM was determined. A haematological analyser was used to measure haematological parameters. <b>Results:</b> There was an overall seroprevalence of 50.3% (n=151), with 49.7% (n=149) of the study participants seropositive for IgG and 1% (n=3) testing positive for IgM. Furthermore, the observed seroprevalence among pregnant women was 56.4% (n=62). With regard to settlement type, a seroprevalence of 55.6% was observed in the rural community, 50.6% in the peri-urban community and 47.1% in the urban community. The study identified cat ownership, contact with cat litter, contact with raw meat  [RR (95% CI: 1.76 (1.23-2.53), 1.66 (1.03-2.67), 1.25(1.00-1.57)] and age (p<0.001) as risk factors for infection. Analyses of haematological data revealed significant reduction in the white blood cell, lymphocytes and mean corpuscular volume levels in seropositive males (p=0.0223, 0.0275, and 0.0271) respectively. Only the mean corpuscular volume of seropositive females reduced significantly as compared to the seronegative counterparts (p=0.0035).  <b>Conclusions:</b> About half of the study population, including women of reproductive age carried antibodies against <i>T. gondii</i>, raising concerns about the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis and anaemia. We, therefore, recommend that screening for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> be included in the routine screening of pregnant women seeking antenatal care and further investigation should be conducted on the haematological implications of infection in humans.</p>","PeriodicalId":34179,"journal":{"name":"AAS Open Research","volume":" ","pages":"166"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7369427/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38228740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethical challenges in community engagement practices in research during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa","authors":"P. Tindana, J. de Vries, Dorcas Kamuya","doi":"10.12688/aasopenres.13084.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.13084.1","url":null,"abstract":"Community engagement (CE) has been highlighted as a key process in the prevention and transmission control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the nature of the virus and national response strategies such as social distancing have challenged traditional methods of community engagement. In this paper, we discuss the role of community engagement in research during COVID-19. We first set out the case for community engagement that emerges from international guidance for research during public health emergencies. We then describe the challenges that are emerging with community engagement in health research generally, and on COVID-19 related research specifically in Africa in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We further describe the strengths and weaknesses of the current engagement and communication platforms, and suggest ways to overcome some of these challenges. We provide an ethical argument for researchers and research institutions to respond directly to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic by responding to emergency health care needs of the community; and provide some challenges and critiques of such an approach. Finally, we support the call for concerted efforts in responding to the global pandemic, requiring flexibility in funding.","PeriodicalId":34179,"journal":{"name":"AAS Open Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49070238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}