Table 1 A summary of the included studies

Akinyemi (2016) [8]

Case Control study

Ghana & Nigeria

Transnational, multicenter, hospital and community-based study recruited from sixteen (16) sites

6,000 (3,000 cases and 3,000 controls)

To describe our experience with the development of efficient and reliable procedures for collection, processing, storage, and shipment of biological samples across coordinating sites

Abdelhafiz (2019) [9]

Survey (Cross sectional)

Egypt

3 University hospitals from 3 geographic regions of Egypt

210 (259 recruited)

To assess the knowledge, attitude, willingness of Egyptian patients to contribute samples towards biobanks; to assess relationship between knowledge and attitude; to assess the factors and fears that might discourage participation

O’Neill et al. (2016) [10]

Case Study

Ethnographic research

In-depth interviews, participant observation, informal conversations, and group discussions

Gambia

Village inhabitants in one village out of twelve in rural Gambia

30 (15 men and 15 women)

To explore anxieties around blood-taking during screening for a malaria treatment trial in the Gambia

Schalkwyk et al. (2012) [11]

Qualitative study

Semi-structured interviews

South Africa

TB Research participants

20 (16 female, 4 male)

To provide a preliminary exploration into the views of research participants on sample storage and re-use

Tindana et al. (2012) [12]

Rapid assessment using Qualitative methods (in- depth interviews, focus group discussions and observations)

Ghana (Kassena-Nankana District in northern Ghana

Participants in the MalariaGEN project

84 (research scientists and assistants, mothers)

To identify issues arising in practice during the enrolment of paediatric cases with severe malaria and matched healthy controls into the MalariaGEN study

Moodley and Singh (2016) [13]

Qualitative study

In-depth qualitative interviews

South Africa

Western Cape, Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal (South Africa)

Researchers (medical and scientific researchers, biobank and governance experts)

21

To explore perspectives of researchers working with bio specimens and/or biobanks in South Africa

Tindana et al. (2014) [14]

Qualitative study

In-depth interviews and focus group discussions

Kenya

Ghana

Researchers; fieldworkers; research assistants; laboratory staff; RECs members; directors of research institutions; community representatives

19 individuals (15 men, 4 women)

3 groups (averagely 6 individuals each)

To identify practical ethical issues arising in the collection, export, storage, and reuse of human biological samples in the context of international collaborative biomedical research

Igbe and Adebamowo (2012) [15]

Focus Group Discussions (FGD)

Nigeria

Adults from different ethnic, age and socio-economic groups

123

To explore the perspectives of Nigerians on donation of specimen for the biobanking research

Mwaka & Horn (2019) [16]

Cross-sectional Study

South Africa

(3 universities and 2 research institutions)

Researchers (investigators, scientists, clinicians, pathologists, laboratory or repository personnel and managers who design and implement biomedical research)

400 (62 respondents)

To explore researchers’ perspectives on ethical issues of biobanking, particularly informed consent and ethics review of research involving human resource repositories

Wendler et al. (2005) [17]

Survey (Cross-sectional study)

Uganda

Adults who consented for their children up to 12 years to participate in an RCT

347

To explore views of Ugandans on stored biological samples

Barchi et al. (2015) [18]

Qualitative study

FGDs

Botswana

Members of Health research development board (HRDB) and institutional review board (IRB)

41

To explore the knowledge, concerns, and training needs of IRB members in Botswana with respect to the use of biospecimens in biomedical research

Moodley et al. (2014) [19]

Mixed Methods

Semi-structured questionnaire with both quantitative and qualitative questions

South Africa

Previous research participants

200

To explore the issues of sample collection, storage, export and future use of stored biological samples