Research strategies for optimizing pregnancy outcomes in minority populations

The elimination of disparities in pregnancy outcomes is a common goal of clinicians and scientists and requires the collaboration of many disciplines to address the complexities of this still-increasing perinatal health concern. This commentary synthesizes the presentations and dialogue from a multidisciplinary workgroup meeting that was sponsored by the National Institute of Nursing Research in 2003. Concepts that are central to our understanding of the development and expression of such disparities are summarized, and approaches that are recognized as important in multiple disciplines that include basic, clinical, and social sciences are presented. Research strategies to foster a multidisciplinary research agenda are presented as a basis for future endeavors to improve pregnancy outcomes.