Riva, Katherine http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3349-2502
Allen-Taylor, Lynne
Schupmann, Will D.
Mphele, Seipone
Moshashane, Neo
Lowenthal, Elizabeth D.
Funding for this research was provided by:
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
The Carole Marcus Mid Career Award to Promote Career Development and Mentoring in Pediatric Research (n/a)
National Institutes of Health (P30 MH 097488, P30 AI 045008)
Article History
Received: 10 April 2018
Accepted: 26 November 2018
First Online: 20 December 2018
Ethics approval and consent to participate
: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the University of Pennsylvania and the Botswana Ministry of Education (MOE). The Botswana MOE recommended applying for a waiver of informed consent for students to be involved in the study because requiring parental written consent/assent from secondary students and their parents/guardians would likely limit the number of students that would be able to participate, especially among students with problematic behaviors and risk factors for such behaviors. Furthermore, the survey was deemed to involve no more than minimal risk to students and the waiver would not adversely affect the rights and welfare of the subjects. Students were informed about risks and benefits of the study and had the option to decline from participation.In line ethical guidelines and common practices set forth by the Botswana MOE, both the MOE and the University of Pennsylvania IRB approved the waiver of informed consent. Verbal permission from school administrators, confirmed by a letter from the Botswana MOE, and informed student assent was required for participation in the study.
: Not applicable.
: The authors of this paper have no competing interests to report.
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