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Article History

Received: 1 January 2025

Accepted: 29 July 2025

First Online: 1 September 2025

Declarations

:

: This study is based on a secondary analysis of existing datasets from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys (PDHS) 2012–13 and 2017–18, with all participant identifiers removed. Informed consent is obtained from all participants before data collection. The survey protocol and instruments follow the ethical guidelines outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and are reviewed and approved by the National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS), operating under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Government of Pakistan.

: Not Applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.