Strategies to recruit and retain Black and Latina/x women and birthing people in a biospecimen research study

The Supporting Our Ladies And Reducing Stress to prevent preterm birth (SOLARS) Feasibility Study utilized three strategies to recruit Black and Latina/x women in a biospecimen study: individual (warm hand-off from community partner); group (attend group sessions to discuss study), and tabling (setting up a table at a clinic or community event). Additionally, we combined individual + group and individual + group + tabling strategies. Using these strategies, 35 women were recruited, where 32 completed survey and biospecimen at two timepoints across their pregnancies. Findings from our study support that using a reproductive justice framework is an effective strategy to build trust and increase participation in biospecimen studies among communities of color.