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Article History

Received: 17 April 2016

Accepted: 14 March 2018

First Online: 20 March 2018

Ethics approval and consent to participate

: Prior to study implementation, we obtained ethical approval over the protocol consent forms and all study related documents from University of Malawi’s College of Medicine Research Ethics Committee (COMREC, P.09/12/1279). Blantyre District Health Office granted written permission for the study to be conducted in its health centres. All participants provided written consent or a thumbprint with a witness in cases of illiteracy, prior to study participation. Consent was obtained by the researcher or research assistant not involved in provision of their antenatal care. Participants were further reassured that their decision to participate, not participate or withdraw from the study would not affect receipt of their regular medical care. Pseudo names were used to conceal the identity of the participants. All study documents are stored in locked cabinets at the College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi. Public transport fares were reimbursed and there was no compensation for their taking part in the study.

: This was obtained as part of the consenting process prior to study participation.

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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