Maternal willingness to participate in research involving neuroimaging, biological sample collection, and data storage: Towards a Multicentre Neurodevelopmental Research in a low-resource setting
6 affiliations
- 1York St John University, School of Science, Technology & Health, Department of Diagnostic Radiography, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York, North Yorkshire, England
- 2Centre for Education, Population Health Research & Innovation, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
- 3Sonotech Medical and Diagnostic Centre, Adjacent NIB Bank, Tema Community, Accra, Ghana
- 4University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Medicine, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
- 5University of Ghana Medical School, Dept of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
- 6Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Akuapem-Mampong, Eastern Region, Ghana
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.
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BibTeX
@article{piersson2026maternal,
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}},
author = {Albert Dayor Piersson and Christiana Amartey and Sarah Teiko Quartei and Klenam Dzefi-Tettey and Promise Emmanuel Sefogah and Aquel Rene Lopez},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0344408},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0344408},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Maternal willingness to participate in research involving neuroimaging, biological sample collection, and data storage: Towards a Multicentre Neurodevelopmental Research in a low-resource setting
AU - Albert Dayor Piersson
AU - Christiana Amartey
AU - Sarah Teiko Quartei
AU - Klenam Dzefi-Tettey
AU - Promise Emmanuel Sefogah
AU - Aquel Rene Lopez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0344408
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0344408
AB - 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.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -