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Article History

Received: 5 September 2024

Accepted: 7 January 2025

First Online: 21 January 2025

Declarations

:

: Ethical approval for the study was granted by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC). A formal support letter was issued to the relevant health institutions and the Addis Ababa Health Bureau. Prior to participation, written informed consent was obtained from all participants’ parents or legal guardians and health professionals, including consent for the publication of anonymized responses. Participants were fully informed about the study’s purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits, and were given the opportunity to ask questions. Participation was entirely voluntary, with the option to withdraw at any time. For participants under the age of 16, informed consent was obtained from their parents or legal guardians in compliance with ethical standards. Additionally, assent was sought from the minors to ensure they understood and agreed to their participation in the study. All data were kept confidential, with personal information anonymized using pseudonyms throughout data collection and reporting. The study adhered to the ethical principles set forth in the Declaration of Helsinki.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.