Moving from Principle to Practice: A Researcher’s Guide to Co-Leading Engaged Research with Community Partners and Patients with Lived Experience to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity for Maternal Sepsis

Maternal mortality and morbidity disproportionately affect birthing people from racialized populations. Unfortunately, researchers can often compound these poor outcomes through a lack of authentic community engagement in research beyond the role of the research subject, leading to ineffective strategies for improving care and increasing equity. This article details the real-life strategies utilized to develop a community-engaged research project of a phased federally funded grant employing community engagement principles of co-leadership and co-creation. It also includes reflections from the researchers and advisory board on promising practices and lessons learned for equitably engaging patients and community partners in research.

This article details the application of principles of community-engaged research in a federally funded phased research project focused on understanding disparities in maternal sepsis to develop better clinical and community interventions. Specifically, it discusses early steps in the research partnership to create a sustainable partnership with a Community Leadership Board guided by the principles of transparency, respect, compensation, and increasing research justice.

Based on the authors’ experience, recommendations are provided for funders, researchers, and institutions to improve the quality and outcomes of community engaged research. This work adds to community-based participatory and community-engaged research literature by providing concrete and practical steps for equitably engaging in research partnerships with a variety of collaborators.

In conclusion, integrated patient and community co-leadership enhances research by providing insight, access to communities for education and dissemination of information, and identifying critical areas needing change. This report may help others address fundamental principles in this journey.