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Article History

Received: 6 May 2025

Accepted: 15 July 2025

First Online: 29 July 2025

Declarations

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: Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, and permission was granted by the Addis Ababa Zone Health Office. The study adhered to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Due to contextual considerations, particularly the presence of participants with limited literacy, written consent was not feasible, as it could have introduced discomfort, confusion, or discouraged participation. Instead, informed verbal consent was obtained by trained data collectors who provided clear explanations of the study’s purpose (to assess STI prevalence and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care), procedures (a 20-minute interview covering health history, behaviors, and STI experiences), and participants’ rights, including voluntary participation and the option to withdraw at any time. The minimal risk involved (primarily time commitment) and absence of direct personal benefit were clarified, along with the potential contribution to improving STI programs. The IRB approved the verbal consent procedure following national and international ethical standards. Confidentiality was strictly maintained through de-identified coding, secure data storage, and exclusion of any personal identifiers. Contact information was made available for questions or concerns, and no incentives or compensation were provided.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.