Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa

Neo K. Morojele; Leslie London; Amina Saban; Bronwyn Myers; Nadine Harker; Kebogile Mokwena; Zukiswa Zingela; Sebenzile Nkosi; Philip Ayieko; Saidi Kapiga

doi:10.1177/15562646261427563

Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa

Neo K. Morojele
, Leslie London
, Amina Saban
, Bronwyn Myers
, Nadine Harker
, Kebogile Mokwena
, Zukiswa Zingela
, Sebenzile Nkosi
, Philip Ayieko
, Saidi Kapiga

Psychology

University of Cape Town
South African Medical Research Council
Curtin University
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Nelson Mandela University
University of Johannesburg
Rhodes University
University of KwaZulu-Natal
National Institute for Medical Research Tanzania
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Public health measures for medical emergencies generate methodological and ethical challenges for human research. Using Emanuel et al.'s framework, we assessed the ethical integrity of the research methods used in a men's alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorder study following their revision due to COVID-19 restrictions in South Africa. Following the amendments, the study's social value, favorable risk-benefit ratio, and respect for participants increased. Collaborative partnership, scientific validity, fair participant selection, independent review, and informed consent improved in terms of successful stakeholder engagements and interviewing procedures, but were compromised due to a cellphone access eligibility criterion and complicated consenting procedures. Methodological and ethical challenges of research during health emergencies can be navigated with flexibility and innovation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	134-147
Number of pages	14
Journal	Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics
Volume	21
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/15562646261427563
Publication status	Published - Jul 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

COVID-19
Emanuelet al.ethical principles
alcohol and other drug use research
collaborative partnerships
ethical principles
flexibility
health emergencies

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Education
Communication
Law

Access to Document

10.1177/15562646261427563

Cite this

Morojele, N. K., London, L., Saban, A., Myers, B., Harker, N., Mokwena, K., Zingela, Z., Nkosi, S., Ayieko, P., & Kapiga, S. (2026). Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 21(3), 134-147. https://doi.org/10.1177/15562646261427563

@article{33ac609839f7462d90aebe696cb83437,

title = "Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa",

abstract = "Public health measures for medical emergencies generate methodological and ethical challenges for human research. Using Emanuel et al.'s framework, we assessed the ethical integrity of the research methods used in a men's alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorder study following their revision due to COVID-19 restrictions in South Africa. Following the amendments, the study's social value, favorable risk-benefit ratio, and respect for participants increased. Collaborative partnership, scientific validity, fair participant selection, independent review, and informed consent improved in terms of successful stakeholder engagements and interviewing procedures, but were compromised due to a cellphone access eligibility criterion and complicated consenting procedures. Methodological and ethical challenges of research during health emergencies can be navigated with flexibility and innovation.",

keywords = "COVID-19, Emanuelet al.ethical principles, alcohol and other drug use research, collaborative partnerships, ethical principles, flexibility, health emergencies",

author = "Morojele, \{Neo K.\} and Leslie London and Amina Saban and Bronwyn Myers and Nadine Harker and Kebogile Mokwena and Zukiswa Zingela and Sebenzile Nkosi and Philip Ayieko and Saidi Kapiga",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).",

year = "2026",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1177/15562646261427563",

language = "English",

volume = "21",

pages = "134--147",

journal = "Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics",

issn = "1556-2646",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",

number = "3",

}

Morojele, NK, London, L, Saban, A, Myers, B, Harker, N, Mokwena, K, Zingela, Z, Nkosi, S, Ayieko, P & Kapiga, S 2026, 'Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa', Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 134-147. https://doi.org/10.1177/15562646261427563

Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa. / Morojele, Neo K.; London, Leslie; Saban, Amina et al.
In: Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, Vol. 21, No. 3, 07.2026, p. 134-147.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa

AU - Morojele, Neo K.

AU - London, Leslie

AU - Saban, Amina

AU - Myers, Bronwyn

AU - Harker, Nadine

AU - Mokwena, Kebogile

AU - Zingela, Zukiswa

AU - Nkosi, Sebenzile

AU - Ayieko, Philip

AU - Kapiga, Saidi

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

PY - 2026/7

Y1 - 2026/7

N2 - Public health measures for medical emergencies generate methodological and ethical challenges for human research. Using Emanuel et al.'s framework, we assessed the ethical integrity of the research methods used in a men's alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorder study following their revision due to COVID-19 restrictions in South Africa. Following the amendments, the study's social value, favorable risk-benefit ratio, and respect for participants increased. Collaborative partnership, scientific validity, fair participant selection, independent review, and informed consent improved in terms of successful stakeholder engagements and interviewing procedures, but were compromised due to a cellphone access eligibility criterion and complicated consenting procedures. Methodological and ethical challenges of research during health emergencies can be navigated with flexibility and innovation.

AB - Public health measures for medical emergencies generate methodological and ethical challenges for human research. Using Emanuel et al.'s framework, we assessed the ethical integrity of the research methods used in a men's alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorder study following their revision due to COVID-19 restrictions in South Africa. Following the amendments, the study's social value, favorable risk-benefit ratio, and respect for participants increased. Collaborative partnership, scientific validity, fair participant selection, independent review, and informed consent improved in terms of successful stakeholder engagements and interviewing procedures, but were compromised due to a cellphone access eligibility criterion and complicated consenting procedures. Methodological and ethical challenges of research during health emergencies can be navigated with flexibility and innovation.

KW - COVID-19

KW - Emanuelet al.ethical principles

KW - alcohol and other drug use research

KW - collaborative partnerships

KW - ethical principles

KW - flexibility

KW - health emergencies

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105033386206

U2 - 10.1177/15562646261427563

DO - 10.1177/15562646261427563

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105033386206

SN - 1556-2646

VL - 21

SP - 134

EP - 147

JO - Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics

JF - Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics

IS - 3

ER -

Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

New Findings from University of Cape Town in the Area of COVID-19 Reported [Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa]

Cite this

Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Press/Media

New Findings from University of Cape Town in the Area of COVID-19 Reported [Implications of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Ethics and Methods of a Multi-Site Study on Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Use Treatment among Men in South Africa]

Cite this