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Article History

Received: 19 October 2021

Accepted: 13 June 2022

First Online: 27 June 2022

Declarations

:

: This study has received ethical approval from Amref Health Africa’s Ethics and Scientific Review Committee in Kenya (ESRC P467/2018) and ERES Converge in Zambia (IRB No.00005948). Study authorization was received from the National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI) in Kenya and the National Health Research Authority (NHRA) in Zambia. At the local level, we sought permission from county and district officials to engage with the caregivers. The study investigators had training in human subject protection in research and observed the guidelines and principles of research on human participants during the research. The data collection team were carefully trained on research ethics including full disclosure, respect for persons, seeking informed consent and confidentiality to minimize harm to the respondents. All data were kept confidential and personal identifiers were removed and replaced with a number from analytical datasets shared with researchers. Databases was password protected to control access to non-authorized persons. All investigators, field supervisors, interviewers, and data, translators and analysis personnel also signed a confidentiality agreement before getting access to the data. The form stated that they will keep the data safe and will not reveal any identifiable information about study participants. In addition, all methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations of declaration of Helsinki. Such as respect for individuals, the right to make informed decisions, recognition of vulnerable groups.

: Not applicable.

: The data collectors sought informed consent from all study participants before being interviewed. For those who were not able to read, the information sheet was read to them in their local language and they were asked to provide a thumbprint to signify their consent. The use of a thumbprint or signature was approved by the ethical research committees in both countries (Amref Health Africa’s Ethics and Scientific Review Committee in Kenya and ERES Converge in Zambia).

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.