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Article History

Received: 15 September 2018

Accepted: 2 December 2018

First Online: 29 December 2018

Authors’ information

: OIE is a senior lecturer in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. He is also the Coordinator of the Research Group for Evidence Based Public Health (EBHC-UNIZIK), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria. MA is a PhD candidate and an academic staff member of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. She is also a member of EBHC-UNIZIK. SK is the Head of the Virology Laboratory, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria. PUE is the Head of the Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine and Project Co-coordinator HIVCARE Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria. GUE is a senior lecturer, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria and an honorary consultant in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

: The study will be conducted according to the Helsinki Declarations on ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects []. The study protocol is approved by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Ethics Committee (NAUTH/CS/66/VOL.11/092/2018/052). Participants aged below 12 years are still under the care of their parents/caregivers according to the Nigerian law. Therefore, the consent of both parents and the parent that has primary responsibility for the child at the time of research or the legal guardian will be obtained before enrolment. For children aged between 12 and less than 18 years, the child will give assent while the relevant parent as described above gives consent. Written consent will be obtained for those aged 18 years and older. In cases where the parents or legal guardian are not physically present, verbal consent through telephone call will be obtained. Unique identifiers and a password-protected database will be used to protect the personal information of the study participant. Participants’ data will be domiciled with the PI. Participants will be free to purposely leave the study at any time, without any effect on the care received in the study hospital. Ethical approval for any amendments to the protocol will be sought prior to implementing any changes if necessary.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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