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Article History

Received: 10 July 2025

Accepted: 27 January 2026

First Online: 9 February 2026

Declarations

:

: The study proposal was reviewed and approved by the Addis Ababa University Institutional Review Board (IRB). The university has multiple IRBs at both the departmental and university levels, tailored to different types of research, including MA, MSc, and PhD studies. The IRB reviewed and approved our research proposal in accordance with university guidelines, as the study involved human participants in focus group discussions and key informant interviews. We would like to confirm that we will submit the IRB approval letter as required during the publication stage of the manuscript.

: The study involved human participants through household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, all ethical standards were strictly adhered to during data collection. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, their confidentiality was maintained, and participation was entirely voluntary. The research was carried out in full compliance with established ethical guidelines and protocols governing studies involving human subjects.

: All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest that could have influenced the results or interpretation of this study. This statement also ensures that the research results and conclusions are impartial and not influenced by personal, financial, or professional relationships.The authors declare no competing interests.