Aribodor, Ogechukwu B.
Azugo, Nwadiuto O.
Jacob, Eunice C.
Ngenegbo, Uche C.
Onwusulu, Nnaemeka D.
Obika, Ifeanyi
Obikwelu, Emmanuel M.
Nebe, Obiageli J.
Article History
Received: 20 September 2023
Accepted: 18 March 2024
First Online: 2 April 2024
Declarations
:
: Ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethical Committee of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka with ethical number COOUTH/CMAC/ETH.C/VOL.1/FN:04/247. Advocacy visits were conducted to engage with community stakeholders, including Traditional rulers, town unions, and youth leaders. The parents, guardians, and teachers were sensitized on the aim and objectives of this research during the Parents Teachers Association meetings in the selected schools. To ensure the willingness of adolescents to participate, assent was obtained from them at every step by providing age-appropriate information, addressing questions and concerns, obtaining voluntary assent, and securing consent from parents or legal guardians, all while maintaining open communication throughout the study. For adolescents below 18 years (10–17), informed consent was obtained from their parents or legal guardians through signed consent forms to enrol them in the study. For students who were 18 years and above (18–19), informed consent was obtained through signed consent forms. Permission to take photographs were sought and obtained from the participants and parents. Written consent was obtained, explicitly acknowledging that the images might be utilized to illustrate risk factors in scientific publications. All infected adolescents included in the study underwent treatment with Praziquantel. All authors of this manuscript have given their approval for its publication.
: Not applicable.
: The authors declare no conflicts of interest pertaining to this research.