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Article History

Received: 25 March 2020

Accepted: 17 March 2021

First Online: 31 March 2021

Declarations

:

: We obtained ethical approval from the College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee (COMREC No P.11/17/2321). Permission to conduct the study in the specific District was obtained from the District Health Officer. Before conducting the study at each health center and village, a courtesy call was made for officers-in-charge and village heads respectively. Each study participant consented to participate in the study before any study activities. The purpose of the study was explained to all participants who were approached. The Principal Investigator read the consent form to all participants that could not read nor write in the presence of an impartial witness and the participants thumb-printed on the consent form. Literate participants gave written consent after reading the consent form. Privacy and confidentiality were maintained by conducting interviews at a private place with the assignment of identification numbers instead of their real names. We conducted our in-depth interviews in Chichewa to prevent language barriers. Interviews with health care workers were conducted in both Chichewa and English depending on health care workers’ preference. All data were kept in a password-protected computer and consent forms were kept in a locked cabinet.

: Not Applicable.

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.