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Article History

Received: 1 October 2019

Accepted: 23 November 2020

First Online: 30 November 2020

Ethics approval and consent to participate

: This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Helsinki Declaration. We obtained ethical approval from the National Ethics Committee of Cameroon, from the ethical review board of MSF, and an administrative authorization from the Ministry of Public Health. Administrative authorities in the study areas were also informed. For participants who were interviewed face-to-face, an information sheet was read and explained to them and they gave their consent by signing a written informed consent document. For participants who were interviewed by phone, the same information was read and explained to them and they gave oral consent which was documented. Respondents below 21 years of age were not interviewed. Data was treated confidentially, and the database was password encrypted with access restricted only to the epidemiologists of the investigation teams. People who were declared sick were referred to MSF treatment centers for free care whenever it was possible.

: Not applicable.

: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.