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Article History

Received: 30 August 2024

Accepted: 10 April 2025

First Online: 26 April 2025

Declarations

:

: This study obtained ethical approval from the Research Ethics Review Committee for Research Involving Human Research Participants, Health Sciences Group, Chulalongkorn University (COA number 086/2018), and was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained after participants were informed of the study’s risks and benefits. While formal ethical review mechanisms are available in Myanmar, this study was conducted as part of the first author’s doctoral research at an academic institution in Thailand. Given the non-clinical nature of the intervention and the institutional affiliation, ethical approval was obtained from the university’s recognized ethics committee in Thailand. A meeting was organized with the township’s general administrative department, health department, industrial zone management committee, industry (company) owners and managers, and the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA), Mandalay Region, to explain the study and ensure compliance with local regulations, cultural norms, and legal requirements, which are critical to the ethical conduct of research. Following the meeting, verbal permission to conduct the study was granted by all these relevant authorities. After the study, the findings were also interpreted back to these authorities to ensure transparency and collaboration. Additionally, prior coordination with the Mental Health Hospital in Mandalay under the Ministry of Health ensured support for participant well-being, with arrangements for referral if needed; however, no participants required clinical referral during the study. At the time of the study, two Myanmar citizen authors, who worked within non-governmental organizations, led the project and liaised with local stakeholders. They were directly involved in executing the research, with the collaboration of co-authors further strengthening oversight throughout the process. The research upheld key ethical principles, including anonymity and confidentiality, voluntary participation, freedom to withdraw, access to findings, and data protection, ensuring a comprehensive approach to ethical standards and privacy.

: Not applicable.

: Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

: The authors declare no competing interests.