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Article History

Received: 16 May 2024

Accepted: 23 January 2025

First Online: 28 January 2025

Declarations

:

: The authors declare no competing interests.

: Ethical clearance was obtained from Hawassa University Institutional Review Board before this study began (Ref. No. IRB/040/13). The purpose of the study was explained in a formal letter to district administration and permission obtained from authorities. The nature of the study was fully explained to the study participants and informed written consent was obtained from them before enrolling in the study. Emphasis on confidentiality and privacy were made clear at the time of consenting to participate and upheld throughout the study. No name appeared on the questionnaires so no participant identification with information could occur. Respondents were at liberty to discontinue from the study at any time without facing any adverse consequences. Information was kept confidential by restricted access and coding of questionnaires. While assessing anemia status, the result of the test was communicated immediately to each participant and if the pregnant woman was severely anemic, she was referred to the nearest health institution for treatment and follow-up. The trial for the study was retrospectively registered on Pan African Clinical Trials.gov with a registration number of PACTR202412578257739 on 11/12/2024. The study was reported following CONSORT 2010 statement (Fig. ).