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Article History

Received: 7 July 2025

Accepted: 5 December 2025

First Online: 12 December 2025

Declarations

:

: The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (Ethics Code: IR.ZAUMS.REC.1402.136). All procedures involving human participants were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committees, as well as the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent amendments. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. For illiterate participants, the study information was read aloud by trained staff, and consent was obtained via thumbprint in the presence of a legally authorized representative (e.g., a literate family member) who also signed the consent form. The objectives of the study, confidentiality measures, and the voluntary nature of participation were clearly explained. No personal identifiers were collected, and participants were assured that they could withdraw from the study at any time without consequences.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.