Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 4, 2025

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
A socioecological framework for engaging substance-using pregnant persons in longitudinal research: Multi-stakeholder
Ellen Goldstein1, Kendra Nervik2, Shelbey Hagen1
1Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1100 Delaplaine Ct, Madison, WI 53715, United States of America.
Objective:
Understanding the impact of substance use during pregnancy on fetal development and child health is essential for designing effective approaches for reducing prenatal substance exposures and improving child outcomes. Research on the developmental impacts of prenatal substance exposure has been limited by legal, ethical, and practical challenges. This study examined approaches to engage substance-using (with an emphasis on opioids) pregnant persons in longitudinal research, from multi-stakeholder perspectives.
Methods:
The present study solicited the expertise of 1) an advisory group of community stakeholders, including people with lived experienced of opioid/substance use; and 2) an online survey with content experts. Qualitative analysis examined facilitators and barriers to recruiting and retaining substance-using pregnant persons through a socioecological lens at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy levels.
Results:
Stakeholders (N = 19) prioritized stigma, loss of confidentiality, legal consequences, and instability (e.g., homelessness and poverty) as important barriers that prevent substance-using persons from enrolling in research studies. Of 70 survey respondents, most self-identified as researchers (n = 37), followed by clinicians (n = 19), and 'others' (n = 14). Survey respondents focused on retention strategies that build trusting relationships with participants, including incentives (e.g., transportation and childcare support), participant-friendly study design, and team-related factors, (e.g., attitudes and practices).
Conclusion:
The stakeholder input and survey data offer key insights strengthening our understanding of facilitators and barriers to research participation, and ways to overcome barriers among substance-using pregnant persons. A socioecological framework can be used to identify and address these factors to increase recruitment and long-term retention of high-risk populations.
More Related Videos
08:53Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community
Published on: May 31, 2019
05:13Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Published on: February 28, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Longitudinal Research
Longitudinal Studies
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Impact of Social Context on Individuals
Drug Dependence