HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY,

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL

SCIENCES (COHMS)
INSTITUTIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH
ETHICS REVIEW COMMITTEE (IHRERC)

GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH ETHICS REVIEW

APPLICANTS

Updated Oct, 2022

Office of IHRERC: Tel. 0254662011. Fax: 0256668081

P.O.Box: 235, Harar, Ethiopia

 Contents and their flow that need to be addressed in a
research proposal for review by the Institutional Health
Research Ethics Review Committee (IHRERC) 4. Work plan (with a self-explanatory table)
5. Budget break down (Described in a self explanatory table)
All applicants should submit the proposals for review by the IHRERC with the following 6. List of references (Harvard style and in Alphabetical order: all authors up to six
details and in the same order as indicated. listed and if more than six, all up to six listed followed by et al)
7. Annexes: (The sub-annexes written as 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 etc. followed by the title of the
A. The fore pages (numbered in Roman numbers starting at the Acknowledgments) annexed material)
1. Title pages: With full description of the study title, the Principal Investigator (PI)  Participant information sheet and informed voluntary consent form(s) as
and the Co-investigator(s)if available or advisors if a graduate student (follow applicable to the different respondents or information sheet and
the format recommended by the SGS of the University). No page number is informed voluntary consent form for Heads of Institutions (using the
given to the title/cover pages). template from the office of the IHRERC and its translations to local
2. Acknowledgment(s): Page No. “i” starts here. languages, if necessary)
3. List of contents (Page ii which lists all contents including the Acknowledgments)  Data collection instruments (properly translated to local languages
4. List of tables and figures (if available) on their own new pages. wherever necessary)
5. List of acronyms/ abbreviations (if available) on its own new page.  Curriculum vitae (CV) of the Principal Investigator(PI) and Co-
6. Abstract (Background, Objective, Methods, Expected Outcome, Proposed investigator(s)
budget and Key words) on its own new page and completed in less than a page.  Signature of advisors (if the PI is a student)
B. The text body (numbered in Arabic numbers): Start page “1” at the Introduction  Technical approval from Department Research Committees (as
Chapter applicable)
1. Introduction (with:-1.1. Background, 1.2 Statement of the problem, 1.3  Filled format of application for ethical review
Significance of the study, and 1.4 Objectives (1.4.1 General and 1.4.2 Specific)  Letter of request/endorsement for ethical approval from Research and
having their own sub titles. The statement of the problem must show what gap/ Publication Office (RPO)/the Health, Nutrition & Well-fare (HNW)
what new is to be addressed (justification/rationale for the study) and the Thematic Leader as appropriate or Graduate Studies Coordinating Office
significance should indicate who (body, office or organization at local level) will (if students) or any other authorized office.
be primarilyusing/ benefiting from the findings of this research and how/for  Copies of other letters of support if any.
what purpose?
2. Literature review (including conceptual framework) organized based on the
specific objectives (previous studies done on the issue: the methods of study,
findings, when and where the studies were done and cited in Harvard style). NB:
3. Methodology: Should include the following as sub-topics/sub-sections:
 3.1 Study area/setting and study period When in need a copy of this guideline can be obtained from office of the IHRERC at the SGS
 3.2 Study design (explicitly described with method of the study) building of the College of Health and Medical Sciences, at 3 rd floor, Room Number 53.
 3.3 Population
 3.3.1 Source population
 3.3.2 Study population
 3.4 Inclusion and exclusion criteria
 3.4.1 Inclusion criteria
 3.4.2 Exclusion criteria
 3.5 Sample size determination
 3.6 Sampling procedure/technique
 3.7 Data collection methods (3.7.1 data collection instruments, 3.7.2
data collectors& supervisors, 3.7.3 procedure of data collection)
 3.8 Variables (3.8.1 Dependent, 3.8.2 independent)
 3.9 Operational definition(s)
 3.10 Data quality control -2-
 3.11 Methods of data analysis
 3.12 Ethical considerations
 3.13 Expected outcome
 3.14 Information dissemination
 3.15 Limitations of the study (if perceived)