Changes to the law on consent in South Africa: implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research

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dc.contributor.authorZuch, Melanieen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMason-Jones, Amandaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMathews, Catherineen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHenley, Lesleyen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-10-28T07:09:20Z
dc.date.available2015-10-28T07:09:20Z
dc.date.issued2012en_ZA
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND:The National Health Act, No 61, 2003 in South Africa is the first effort made by the government to protect health-related research participants under law. Implemented on March 1, 2012, the law mandates active consent from a parent or legal guardian for all research conducted with research participants under the age of 18 years. This paper focuses on the Act's implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research.DISCUSSION:Although well intentioned, the added legal protections in the National Health Act may have the unintended consequence of reducing participation rates in school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research, thereby excluding the most at-risk students. The Act may also compromise adolescents' right to dignity and privacy, especially considering the personal nature of research on sex and sexuality. Devolved, discretionary decision-making, which empowers local human research ethics committees to permit a wider range of protective measures, including passive consent, independent adolescent consent or community consultation ought to be considered. The continued and direct involvement of young people in their sexual and reproductive health and well-being is an important principle to uphold.SUMMARY:This paper calls for a re-examination of section 71's ethical guidelines relating to informed consent in the National Health Act, No 61, 2003 in South Africa in order to better serve the interests of South African adolescents in sexual and reproductive health research.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationZuch, M., Mason-Jones, A., Mathews, C., & Henley, L. (2012). Changes to the law on consent in South Africa: implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research. <i>BMC International Health and Human Rights</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14486en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationZuch, Melanie, Amanda Mason-Jones, Catherine Mathews, and Lesley Henley "Changes to the law on consent in South Africa: implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research." <i>BMC International Health and Human Rights</i> (2012) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14486en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationZuch, M., Mason-Jones, A. J., Mathews, C., & Henley, L. (2012). Changes to the law on consent in South Africa: implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research. BMC international health and human rights, 12(1), 3.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Zuch, Melanie AU - Mason-Jones, Amanda AU - Mathews, Catherine AU - Henley, Lesley AB - BACKGROUND:The National Health Act, No 61, 2003 in South Africa is the first effort made by the government to protect health-related research participants under law. Implemented on March 1, 2012, the law mandates active consent from a parent or legal guardian for all research conducted with research participants under the age of 18 years. This paper focuses on the Act's implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research.DISCUSSION:Although well intentioned, the added legal protections in the National Health Act may have the unintended consequence of reducing participation rates in school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research, thereby excluding the most at-risk students. The Act may also compromise adolescents' right to dignity and privacy, especially considering the personal nature of research on sex and sexuality. Devolved, discretionary decision-making, which empowers local human research ethics committees to permit a wider range of protective measures, including passive consent, independent adolescent consent or community consultation ought to be considered. The continued and direct involvement of young people in their sexual and reproductive health and well-being is an important principle to uphold.SUMMARY:This paper calls for a re-examination of section 71's ethical guidelines relating to informed consent in the National Health Act, No 61, 2003 in South Africa in order to better serve the interests of South African adolescents in sexual and reproductive health research. DA - 2012 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1186/1472-698X-12-3 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - BMC International Health and Human Rights LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2012 T1 - Changes to the law on consent in South Africa: implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research TI - Changes to the law on consent in South Africa: implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14486 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14486
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-698X-12-3
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationZuch M, Mason-Jones A, Mathews C, Henley L. Changes to the law on consent in South Africa: implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research. BMC International Health and Human Rights. 2012; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14486.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherBioMed Central Ltden_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicineen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licenseen_ZA
dc.rights.holder2012 Zuch et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltden_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0en_ZA
dc.sourceBMC International Health and Human Rightsen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinthealthhumrights/en_ZA
dc.subject.otherChild and Adolescent Healthen_ZA
dc.subject.otherReproductive Healthen_ZA
dc.subject.otherReproductive Rightsen_ZA
dc.titleChanges to the law on consent in South Africa: implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health researchen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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