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Article History

Received: 21 February 2025

Accepted: 7 July 2025

First Online: 10 July 2025

Declarations

:

: Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the University of Health and Allied Sciences Review Ethics Committee (UHAS-REC A.30 [111]22–23) and the Institutional Review Board of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s Research Department. Informed consent was obtained from all participants after they were fully briefed about the study’s purpose, procedures, risks, and potential benefits. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, the study acknowledged the potential risk of triggering mental health issues, such as distress or emotional discomfort, during data collection. To address these risks, the following measures were implemented: participants were informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any point without consequence; they were provided with a list of mental health support services, including counsellors and helplines, should they feel distressed; trained research assistants were available to provide immediate support or assistance if needed; and any participant showing signs of distress was immediately offered a referral for counselling. Confidentiality was ensured through the use of pseudonyms, and all data was securely stored in an encrypted, password-protected database, with access limited to the Principal Investigator and the research supervisor. The study adhered to strict ethical guidelines to protect the rights and well-being of all participants.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.