Factors Driving Pregnant Women’s Participation in Non-therapeautic Clinical Research in Tanzania: Qualitative Findings from Mwananyamala Regional Hospital, Dar-Es-Salaam Region

Abstract

Background: Pregnant women’s participation in non-therapeutic clinical trials has gained global attention. However, the imposition of unnecessary harm to the fetuses because of their participation is questionable. This is proved by the historical tragedies that resulted from the use of diethylstilbestrol and thalidomide, which caused cancer among daughters of the treated women. Methods: The study was an exploratory qualitative facility-based conducted at Mwananyamala Regional Hospital in Kinondoni District, Dar-es-Salaam Region, Tanzania, among pregnant women who were enrolled in a clinical trial: “Adverse birth outcomes among mothers who received intermittent preventive treatment with Sulphadoxine- Pyrimethamine in the low malaria transmission region”. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed by thematic analysis with the aid of NVivo computer software. Findings: Several push and pull factors such as saving of the life of the fetus and the mother; delivery complications; the desire to contribute to maternal-fetal science; societal benefits; incentives; advice from medical professionals; free or voluntary participation, and therapeutic misconception influenced pregnant women to voluntarily participate in non-therapeutic clinical researches. Conclusion: The study findings show that saving of the life of the fetus and the mother, delivery complications, desire to contribute to maternal-fetal science, advice from medical professionals, and incentives were core factors for pregnant women’s participation in non-therapeutic clinical researches in Tanzania. Fetal harms and therapeutic misconceptions decelerate pregnant women’s rate to participate in non-therapeutic clinical researches hence bioethical education is highly needed in this aspect.