Strategies for Recruiting African Immigrants to Mixed Methods Maternal Health Research: Evidence from a Pilot Study

African immigrants in the United States (US) have a lower average risk of adverse birth outcomes, compared to US-born Black women. While population-level studies have identified potential explanatory factors, including differences in exposure to racism and access to social support, there are few mixed methods investigations among African immigrants on the West Coast of the US. In this brief report, we outline the strategies deployed to recruit African immigrant mothers in California to the AZANIA (African immigrants conceptualiZing pregnANcy experiences In America) pilot mixed methods study. The AZANIA study was grounded in community-engaged research principles and aimed at understanding the relationship between racism, social support, and use of African cultural practices during pregnancy and childbirth. Within five months we met 100% (n = 25) of our recruitment goal, despite restrictive immigration policies in California. Among the ten recruitment strategies used in the AZANIA study, five effective strategies to recruit African immigrant mothers emerged: referrals from community partner organizations (n = 8), snowball sampling (n = 5), referrals from personal contacts of African descent (n = 5), flyers at African-owned businesses (n = 5) and flyers in Black health-focused newsletters (n = 2). Future studies should consider our culturally-grounded recruitment strategies in their upcoming mixed methods research among African immigrant mothers in the US.