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Article History

Received: 30 January 2025

Accepted: 14 January 2026

First Online: 30 January 2026

Declarations

:

: This study adheres to the ethical standards set by national and institutional committees for human experimentation and complies with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval has been granted by both the University of KwaZulu-Natal Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (BREC/00004526/2022) and the Emory Research Ethics Committee (STUDY00004803). All personnel involved will undergo training in research ethics, focusing on confidentiality, voluntary participation, and good clinical practice. We will maintain confidentiality throughout the research process, ensuring that none of our reports, presentations, or publications reveal participants’ identities. Pseudonyms will be used when reporting data, especially qualitative data, and each participant will be assigned a unique identification number that does not disclose their identity. Before participating, individuals will receive comprehensive information about the study and will have the opportunity to ask questions. Informed consent will be obtained once participants fully understand the study procedures. For participants aged 18–19 years, written informed consent will be obtained. Participants aged 15–17 years will provide written assent, accompanied by written informed consent from their parents or guardians. Participants have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, and it will be explicitly communicated that their decision to decline participation or withdraw will not affect their access to health services or lose any benefits to which they are entitled. Any breach of confidentiality or reported loss of protected health information will be reported to the clinical staff, Institutional (University of KwaZulu-Natal BREC) and Emory IRB. Content will be suspended until an acceptable resolution has been determined by the IRB.

: Not applicable.

: BCZ is a consultant for Accordant. VCM has received investigator-initiated research grants (to the institution) and other support from Eli Lilly, Bayer, Gilead Sciences, Merck, and ViiV.