Nigo, Maurice M.
Odermatt, Peter
Nigo, David Wully
Salieb-Beugelaar, Georgette B.
Battegay, Manuel
Hunziker, Patrick R.
Funding for this research was provided by:
Poverty Foundation, Basel
Article History
Received: 26 April 2020
Accepted: 5 March 2021
First Online: 25 March 2021
Declarations
:
: Patient examinations were part of a larger study, which was approved by the Swiss Ethical Commission (Ethikkommission in Nordwest- and Zentralschweiz, Ref. No. UBE-15/78) and by the University of Kisangani’s Research Ethical Commission, (Ref No: CER/003/GEAK/2016). Authorization was granted by the Nyankunde Higher Institute of Medical Techniques (Ref No 70/ISTM-N/SGAC/2017), Bunia, DRC. Permission for field work was obtained from the Ituri Provincial Health Division (Ref. 054/433/DPS/IT/06/2016 and Ref. 054/472/DPS/IT/06/2017) and from all relevant health districts. Prior to enrollment, the study objectives and procedures were explained in the local language to each participant and all of their questions were answered. Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants aged 15 years and older. Parents or legal guardians signed assent forms for participants aged 14 years and younger. Adolescents (15–17 years) signed the informed consent forms in agreement with the parents / guardians and in the presence of the village health volunteer.
: Written informed consent was obtained and included permission for taking photographs and publishing anonymized data.
: The authors have no competing interests to declare.