Document is current

Article History

Received: 4 May 2020

Accepted: 12 October 2020

First Online: 22 October 2020

Ethics approval and consent to participate

: All research included in this manuscript has been performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by two ethics committees, Western Institutional Review Board and the National Health Research Board of Eswatini. Ethics approval and consent to participate. Ethical approval for the study was sought from the National Health Research Board of the Eswatini Ministry of Health and from the Western Institutional Review Board (WIRB). Participants (or their caregivers, if under 18) first consented using written consent (or assented if younger than 18) to be part of baseline data collection. It was explained to them that if they were HIV negative, they would be invited to enrol in the study. Not all HIV negative participants chose to enrol in the study. The purpose of the study, the outcomes, and process, and the confidentiality of their responses were explained to all potential participants and their caregivers (for participants under the age of 18 years). Participants under 18 had to sign a separate assent form. They received an information sheet detailing risks and benefits of enrolment and invited to participate in baseline data collection. Their informed consent was obtained in local language at a designated study site. All participants were allowed to refuse to participate or leave the study at any time. The signed informed consent forms and assent forms from participants and caregivers were retained and a copy left for the individual (and their caregiver, if applicable). Communities were sensitized through traditional structures/community leaders. Caregivers were not informed of HIV testing results for minors as the age of consent for HIV testing in Eswatini is 12 years (as per Eswatini’s Integrated HIV Management Guidelines 2015) []. This minimized the chance that caregivers would be able to deduce that the minor was excluded due to their HIV status for those minors who do not wish to disclose their status to the guardians.

: Not applicable.

: No competing interests.