{ "abstract": "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.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "York St John University, School of Science, Technology & Health, Department of Diagnostic Radiography, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York, North Yorkshire, England", "Centre for Education, Population Health Research & Innovation, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana", "Sonotech Medical and Diagnostic Centre, Adjacent NIB Bank, Tema Community, Accra, Ghana", "University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Medicine, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana", "University of Ghana Medical School, Dept of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana", "Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Akuapem-Mampong, Eastern Region, Ghana" ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 6, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Albert Dayor Piersson" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "Christiana Amartey" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Sarah Teiko Quartei" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Klenam Dzefi-Tettey" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "Promise Emmanuel Sefogah" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Aquel Rene Lopez" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dvc73dtbxfvt1.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0344408", "fulltext_url": null, "id": "dvc73dtbxfvt1", "issns": [ "1932-6203" ], "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0344408", "language": null, "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0", "licence_source": "journal", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "2739|Ethics in Clinical Research" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Amniotic fluid" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Milk/Breast milk" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Urine" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Neuroscience/Brain mapping/Electroencephalography" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Neuroscience/Neuroimaging" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Neuroscience/Neuroimaging/Electroencephalography" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Neuroscience/Neurophysiology/Brain electrophysiology/Electroencephalography" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Nutrition/Diet/Beverages/Milk/Breast milk" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Body fluids/Amniotic fluid" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Body fluids/Milk/Breast milk" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Body fluids/Urine" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Electrophysiology/Neurophysiology/Brain electrophysiology/Electroencephalography" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Amniotic fluid" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Milk/Breast milk" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Urine" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Clinical medicine/Clinical neurophysiology/Electroencephalography" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Diagnostic medicine/Diagnostic radiology/Magnetic resonance imaging" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Socioeconomic aspects of health" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Nutrition/Diet/Beverages/Milk/Breast milk" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Socioeconomic aspects of health" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Radiology and imaging/Diagnostic radiology/Magnetic resonance imaging" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Bioassays and physiological analysis/Electrophysiological techniques/Brain electrophysiology/Electroencephalography" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Imaging techniques/Diagnostic radiology/Magnetic resonance imaging" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Imaging techniques/Neuroimaging" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Imaging techniques/Neuroimaging/Electroencephalography" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Storage and handling/Specimen storage" ] ], "openalex": "W7214163270", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0344408&type=printable", "pmcid": null, "pmid": null, "published": "2026-09-24", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dvc73dtbxfvt1.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0344408", "source": "plos", "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0344408" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:anatomy", "subfield": "physiology" } ], "title": "Maternal willingness to participate in research involving neuroimaging, biological sample collection, and data storage: Towards a Multicentre Neurodevelopmental Research in a low-resource setting", "title_text": "Maternal willingness to participate in research involving neuroimaging, biological sample collection, and data storage: Towards a Multicentre Neurodevelopmental Research in a low-resource setting", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dvc73dtbxfvt1", "venue": "PLOS One", "versions": [] }