AFRICAN FEMALE BREAST CANCER EPIDERMIOLOGY (AFBRECANE) STUDY

Institute Of Human Virology, Abuja

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Administrative Supplement for Impact of COVID-19 on the H3Africa African Female Breast Cancer Epidemiology (AFBRECANE) Study The COVID-19 pandemic affected the initiation and implementation of research globally and many institutions are just now finding out the extent of the impact on research infrastructure, personnel, consumables, and funding. Research projects were abruptly discontinued without adequate and proper close-out procedures that would have ensured safe and secure winding down of activities. The pandemic had overwhelming negative impact on all aspects of the research enterprise. In the AFBRECANE project, enrollment of study participants fell by 60% comparing 2020 to 2019. So far in the first quarter of 2021, enrollment remains at 80% of that of 2019. There is uncertainty about future impact of COVID-19 on global health research implementation because low- and middle- income countries (LMIC) are still suffering ongoing waves of the COVID-19 pandemic with no short to medium- term solution in sight. We therefore request additional funding to strengthen ongoing recruitment of participants into the AFBRECANE Study. This ensures successful attainment of the specific aims of the original project and prevents loss of the resources generated to date with resulting moral injury to participants enrolled to date.