Understanding cultural values, norms and beliefs that may impact participation in genome-editing related research: Perspectives of local communities in Botswana.

Gene-editing research is a complex science and foreign in most communities including Botswana. Adopting a qualitative deliberative framework with 109 participants from 7 selected ethnic communities in Botswana, we explored the perceptions of local communities on cultural values, norms, and beliefs that may motivate or deter likely participation in the use of gene-editing related research. What emerged as the ethnic community's motivators for research participation include the potential for gene-editing technologies to promote access to individualized medications, and the possibility of protecting family members from genetic related diseases.

Cultural Values and Beliefs of Selected Local Communities in Botswana: Implications for Human Subject Research Ethics Practice.

Calls have been made for researchers prospectively and continuously to engage study communities. If done, this typically occurs through a specific research study or collaboration. Rarely are community mores examined in-depth to understand implications for research ethics policy processes.