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Article History

Received: 4 March 2025

Accepted: 13 August 2025

First Online: 13 September 2025

Declarations

:

: This study received ethical approval from multiple regulatory and institutional oversight bodies in Botswana. Initial approval was granted by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Botswana, under the Office of Research and Development (Reference: UB/RES/IRB/SOC/247). A national research permit was subsequently obtained from the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs (formerly the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development) under Reference: CLG 14/14/3/1 II (48). Further ethical clearance and administrative authorization were granted at the district level by the Serowe District Health Management Team (DHMT), through its Institutional Review Board based at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital (Reference: SDHMT 6/17/II), and formal approval was also received from the management of Palapye Primary Hospital. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their participation in the study. Participants were thoroughly informed about the study’s objectives, procedures, potential risks and benefits, and their right to withdraw at any stage without any consequences. All interviews were conducted in a respectful and ethically sensitive manner, acknowledging the potentially emotional nature of the topics discussed. Participants’ confidentiality and privacy were ensured through anonymization of data and secure storage of recordings and transcripts.

: Participants provided consent for the anonymous use of their responses in publications derived from this research. No identifiable personal information is included in the manuscript, and all quotations have been anonymized to protect participants’ identities.

: The authors declare no competing interests.

: Not applicable.