Maternal willingness to participate in research involving neuroimaging, biological sample collection, and data storage: Towards a Multicentre Neurodevelopmental Research in a low-resource setting.

BACKGROUND

Maternal participation in neurodevelopmental research involving neuroimaging and diverse biological samples is essential for understanding prenatal influences on early brain development, yet willingness in low-resource settings remains underexplored.

METHOD: We surveyed 300 mothers using a structured questionnaire to assess willingness to undergo brain health testing (with a focus on electroencephalography [EEG] and brain magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), provide biological samples (blood, stool, urine, breast milk, placenta, amniotic fluid, vaginal/nasal fluid, saliva, tears), and consent to 10-year storage of diagnostic images and samples for future research. Responses were analysed to examine associations between maternal sociodemographic factors and willingness to consent for each research component.

RESULTS

Ninety-two percent of participants expressed willingness for brain health testing, including ~82% and ~88% interest in EEG and MRI, respectively, even for untreatable conditions. Self-reported histories of foetal defects (5.3%) and birth defects (7.3%) were notably low. Biospecimen acceptance was highest (>95%) for routine samples (blood, stool, urine) but significantly low for sensitive specimens (breast milk, placenta, amniotic fluid: 51-55%) including (vaginal fluid, saliva, tears: 16-47%). Higher levels of maternal education consistently predicted consent across modalities, while being married increased willingness for stool, urine, placenta, amniotic fluid, MRI, and EEG. Low income reduced uptake for placenta, amniotic fluid, MRI, and EEG. Only 48% consented to 10-year storage of diagnostic images and samples for future research.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates high maternal willingness for neurodevelopmental research involving brain health testing and routine biospecimens in a low-resource setting. The findings highlight the feasibility of such protocols in a low-resource setting while exposing persistent inequities that risk underrepresenting disadvantaged mothers in maternal-child brain research. Contextually tailored consent models and capacity-building initiatives will be essential to ensure equitable, sustainable engagement across diverse LMIC populations.