Developing new approaches for the recruitment and retention of Indigenous participants in longitudinal research: Lessons from E Moe, Māmā: Maternal Sleep and Health in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Recruitment and retention of participants in longitudinal studies relies on systems that support the participants throughout the research, and ensures high quality data management and protection. In addition, working with indigenous communities and participants requires specific processes that are informed by indigenous knowledge and understandings of the constituent properties underlying “good” and ethical research practice. This paper describes the development of a methodological approach to the recruitment of pregnant Māori and non- Māori women into a longitudinal study of maternal sleep, health and wellbeing (the E Moe, Māmā: Maternal Sleep and Health in Aotearoa/New Zealand study). We explore how Kaupapa Māori research methodology was conceptualised and embedded within the research framework and consider how the indigenous research ethics of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga were operationalised to result in increased engagement between the research team and the Māori community. As a result of these processes, a total of 421 Māori and 768 non- Māori women enrolled in the E Moe, Māmā study. This paper outlines the strategies used to engage with Māori and promote the study in Māori communities and highlights the importance of developing research approaches for recruitment and retention of research participants that are aligned with Māori aspirations for research to achieve the goal of reducing Māori health disparities.