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Article History

Received: 24 June 2020

Accepted: 15 October 2020

First Online: 20 October 2020

Ethics approval and consent to participate

: This study was reviewed and approved by the Makerere University School of Public Health’s Higher Degrees, Research and Ethics Committee (Protocol #: 649) and the Yale University School of Public Health Institutional Review Board (Protocol #: 2000024945) and cleared by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST). All participants provided written informed consent prior to participation in the study. Adolescents aged 15–17 years were enrolled only if they were considered to be ‘emancipated minors’. The Uganda National Council for Science and Technology defines emancipated minors as individuals below the age of majority (i.e. below 18 years of age) who are pregnant, married, have a child or cater for their own livelihood. This definition was upheld during the enrolment into the study of adolescents aged 15–17 years. Emancipated minors were considered to be eligible to provide their own consent without the need for parental/guardian consent and this was approved by both institutional review boards in line with guidance from the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.