Anyolitho, Maxson Kenneth http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1421-1178
Huyse, Tine
Masquillier, Caroline
Nyakato, Viola Nilah
Poels, Karolien
Article History
Received: 25 June 2023
Accepted: 18 January 2024
First Online: 7 February 2024
Ethical approvals
: This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study received ethical approvals from the Mbarara University of Science and Technology Research and Ethics Committee (MUST-REC) with reference no. MUREC 1/7 and the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (UNCST) with approval no. SS836ES. Clearances were also obtained from the district health officers of the two districts of Kagadi and Ntoroko. Before the start of the study, the project was introduced to the sub-county and village leaders in the respective sub-counties and villages, who later introduced the project team and the researchers to the community members.
: Informed consent to participate in the study and to publish was obtained from the individual participants and the community by both the corresponding author and the CSs. Two informed consent forms were prepared. The first one, for collecting data on the preferred sources of schistosomiasis information was obtained from adult individuals. Meanwhile, the second one for participation in the awareness campaigns was obtained from the community members through their local leaders. For the dissemination of findings and co-design of interventions, it was not necessary to obtain written informed consent since the participants willingly responded to workshop invitations. The corresponding author prepared an informed consent form, which stipulated the study title and purpose, the procedures for selection and participation and what was required by participants. Furthermore, participants were assured of voluntary participation, confidentiality, and privacy. After going through the documents, participants were asked to state whether they agreed to participate in the study or not. Acceptance was by use of signing acknowledgement.
: We declare that no conflicting interests exist. This study was supported by the ATRAP project (Action Towards Reducing Aquatic Snail-borne Parasitic Diseases) of the Belgian Development Cooperation program. The contents and all the materials therein, are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not in any way, represent the views of the funders. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, the decision to publish, or the preparation of the manuscript.