Africa: The Case for Including More Babies and Young Children in Medical Research

What the report says

AllAfrica’s Spotlight reports that babies and very young children remain underrepresented in medical research, even though they can face serious illness and need treatments tailored to their age and weight. The article says this gap can leave doctors with limited evidence when treating infants, and notes a 2025 World Health Organisation estimate that only about one in ten clinical trials globally include babies, with even fewer taking place in lower- and middle-income countries.

The piece, published from Cape Town on 30 September 2026, explains that researchers and ethics experts see both scientific and ethical reasons for involving infants in carefully designed studies. It cites University of Cape Town clinical pharmacologist Marc Blockman and University of KwaZulu-Natal law professor Ann Strode, who describe the need to balance potential benefit, minimal risk, and parental consent. The article also outlines South African research rules and ethics guidance that apply to vulnerable groups, including children.

A key issue raised is that medicines tested in adults do not always work safely or effectively in babies. The report says researchers often need age-specific data and may test treatments in stages, beginning with older children in some cases. It also points to HIV as a major area where infant research matters, because some babies are born with or soon develop HIV infection.

The article highlights work by Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital neonatologist Adrie Bekker, who has studied dosing for antiretroviral medicines in babies, as an example of why infant-focused trials can improve care and reduce uncertainty for clinicians.