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Article History

Received: 12 June 2023

Accepted: 11 January 2024

First Online: 26 January 2024

Declarations

:

: Permission to use these datasets was granted by the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC). The APHRC obtained ethical approval from the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) of Kenya and Zambia to conduct these studies. Written informed consent was obtained from the study participants before data were collected. For respondents who could neither read nor write, a thumbprint was used as a signature in the presence of a witness. Consent was obtained at every round of data collection. Consent documents and the questionnaire were translated into Dholuo (for the Kenyan rural study site) and Nyanja and Tonga (for the Zambia rural study site). Confidentiality of the data and the participants’ privacy were always observed during and after data collection. These studies were registered under the trial registration number PACTR20180774832663. In addition, all methods were carried out in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations of the Declaration of Helsinki. For example, respect for individuals, the right to make informed decisions, and the recognition of vulnerable groups.

: The data collectors sought informed consent from all study participants before they were interviewed. For those who were unable 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. Ethical research committees in both countries approved the use of a thumbprint or signature. The ethical research committees in both countries approved the use of a thumbprint or signature (Amref Health Africa’s Ethics and Scientific Review Committee in Kenya and the ERES Converge in Zambia).

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.