Missing assent: a global systematic review of ethical practices in HIV research with men who have sex with men (MSM) under 18
This review highlights inconsistencies in how informed assent is addressed in HIV research involving MSM minors. Only one in five studies described ethically appropriate, youth-tailored processes. Limited use of waivers and adapted assent procedures points to ongoing gaps in aligning research with ethical standards. Future studies should adopt clearer, age-appropriate consent practices, ensure transparent reporting, and strengthen researcher training in ethics involving vulnerable minors.
Authors
- Worawalan Waratworawan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8300-9892)
- Thomas E. Guadamuz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6803-1127)
- T Charles Witzel
- Sin How Lim
Institutions
- Mahidol University (TH)
- University of Malaya (MY)
- University College London (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Medical Ethics
- Published
- 2026-02-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-026-01378-7
- Primary Topic
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00