Ethical issues in conducting research with low-income mothers and their babies: Implications for practice and policy

The proposed presentation will focus on the ethical issues associated with conducting descriptive and preventive intervention research with low-income mothers and their babies. This work is based on the Centers for the Prevention of Child Neglect, a consortium of universities and multi-disciplinary researchers and practitioners who collaborate in conducting multi-site research to improve understanding of the precursors of child neglect and to develop and test evidence-based prevention programs. As a research study, we ensure the protection of human subjects and the voluntary nature of participation, while adhering to the study protocol requirements to deliver the program in a scientifically sound manner. Families, regardless of whether they are participating in a descriptive study or a preventive intervention study, have maternal, child, and family needs, including transient housing and childcare arrangements, inadequate access to healthcare, financial stress, legal and immigration issues, and mental health issues such as untreated depression and domestic conflict or violence. In this presentation, we will discuss the comprehensive, systematic mechanism we developed to address the on-going, yet frequently changing clinical needs of the participants in an ethically responsive way (e.g., Principles of Scientific Integrity, Ramey and Lanzi, 2005; Home Visiting Guide, Baggett et al, 2004; and Clinical Challenges Manual, Guttentag et al, 2004). The presentation will include approaches for integrating proven strategies and best practices for addressing ethical, clinical, and research challenges. Practical, programmatic, and policy recommendations for addressing ethical issues in research will be discussed.