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Article History

Received: 9 July 2024

Accepted: 5 May 2025

First Online: 17 May 2025

Declarations

:

: This study is a part of a larger project TREAT C-AUD: Child Alcohol Use Disorder in Eastern Uganda: Screening, Diagnoses, Risk factors and Handling of Children Drinking Alcohol in Uganda []. The larger project received ethical approval from HDREC (745) in Uganda and the corresponding institution in Norway REK (#50146). This study was approved as an amendment to TREAT C-AUD (#50146) by the REK institution in Norway. The date of amendment approval is 30/06/2021. Written informed consent was obtained from the interview participants and the parents of the focus group participants. In addition, we obtained verbal assent from the children before the group discussion. Children were informed that they can exit the group discussion at any time and gave verbal conformation that they will not share the topics discussed during FGD outside the group. The participants were not asked about their personal experiences with mental health, alcohol or substance use, however, some chose to share. All schools received 20 L barrel of soap for willingness to participate and accommodate interviews and focus groups discussions. Teachers received airtime for helping to recruit FGD participants by contacting children’s parents, informing them about the study and asking them to sign the consent form. We declare that the study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki ethical standards.

: Consent for publication is not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.