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Article History

Received: 20 February 2019

Accepted: 4 September 2019

First Online: 11 October 2019

Ethics approval and consent to participate

: Ethical approval was granted by the London School of Hygiene MSc Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 10872). Local ethical approval was obtained as part of the Childhood Mortality Reduction after Oral Azithromycin in Malawi (MORDOR – Malawi) study by the College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee (COMREC) in Malawi (Ref: P.02/14/1521).Informed consent scripts were translated into local languages, these were read aloud to each study participant (and his/her parent/guardian) by a local team member who was a native speaker of the local language to ensure that they understood the risks and benefits of participating in all study activities. Young adults and children under 18 years of age, who cannot give consent by law, were included only following the receipt of written informed consent from a parent or guardian by means of signature or thumbprint if illiterate. If, at any time, a parent or guardian elected to withdraw themselves or a family member from the study, it was made clear that they were permitted to do so freely.Children who were found on examination to be malnourished, or anaemic were referred for appropriate treatment by trained study personnel, at the nearest health centre. The Malawi government already runs a soil-transmitted helminth control program with albendazole. Specific treatment for stool pathogens was provided only where children were symptomatic.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.