What is this research study about?
The Evidence for Better Lives Study aims to better understand families’ experiences during pregnancy and the first months of a child’s life. Pregnancy and the first years of life are particularly important in the life of a developing child. Through this research, we hope to learn more about how children develop in the first years of life, and how parents can best support their children. The results will help to promote the health and wellbeing of children in Romania, so that they can achieve their full potential.
The study is being conducted by Babes-Bolyai University and is led by Prof Adriana Baban. To learn more about how families can best support their children around the world, we are working together with Universities in eight different countries. The study is coordinated by a team led by Prof Eisner at the University of Cambridge, UK.
What does the study involve?
In the coming months members of the research team will ask pregnant women in Cluj whether they are willing to participate. Those who agree to participate will be asked about their pregnancy, their health, and who lives together with them in their household. We will also ask participants for a small sample of their hair and a few drops of blood from their finger. These will give us important information about the pregnancy. Three months after their baby is born, we will contact the participants again for another short interview.
All the information collected as part of this study will be kept absolutely confidential (private). No names will appear in any reports that are published about the study.
The Ethics Board of Babes-Bolyai University and the relevant Ethics Board of the University of Cambridge have approved this study.
Who can I talk to for more information?
You can contact Professor Adriana Baban on telephone number +40 264599402 if you have any further queries. You can also contact the Ethics Committee of Babes-Bolyai University at https://www.ubbcluj.ro/ro/despre/organizare/comisia_de_etica.
Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Fondation Botnar, without which the study could not be conducted. We are also grateful for financial support by the UBS Optimus Foundation, the Jacobs Foundation, the British Academy, the University of Cambridge School of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Fund, the ESRC Impact Acceleration Fund, and the Consuelo Foundation at various stages of this study.
