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Article History

Received: 5 April 2018

Accepted: 14 November 2018

First Online: 29 November 2018

Author’s information

: FN is the Lead Principal Investigator on the MINA birth cohort study which is taking place in a few countries of the Middle East, and JJA is the research coordinator of the project at the different sites. The concept of this study stemmed from challenges that the authors faced in the field, particularly subjects’ recruitment, and the lack of culture-specific recommendations or strategies to be implemented to enhance subjects’ recruitment. The MINA study researchers have reached out to GHA, who is a qualitative researcher, for collaboration in order to launch this study.

: The study received ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board at the American University of Beirut under protocol number NUT.FN.23. All participants signed a written informed consent prior to participation, and each participant was assured, in writing, of their anonymity and confidentiality. All pregnant participants received an in-kind incentive of $10 plus $15 to cover transportation and parking fees, while KIs received an in-kind incentive of $25 as a compensation for their time.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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