3.6: Ethical Considerations:
Ethical approval was sought and granted by the Faculty of Health Sciences Institutional Review Board. The study procedure (information to be collected, test to be done and any likely adverse effect; pain from needle during sample collection) was explained in details to each prospective participants. An information notice was given to them as well as a written consent form they were required to sign if they accepted to be part of the study or a verbal consent if they could neither read nor write. For adolescents, assent was gotten from their parents or legal care takers. Patients diagnosed during December 2016 and as well those in the prospective phase, were called to either inform them about the study (its objectves,
Ethical approval was sought and granted by the Faculty of Health Sciences Institutional Review Board. The study procedure (information to be collected, test to be done and any likely adverse effect; pain from needle during sample collection) was explained in details to each prospective participants. An information notice was given to them as well as a written consent form they were required to sign if they accepted to be part of the study or a verbal consent if they could neither read nor write. For adolescents, assent was gotten from their parents or legal care takers. Patients diagnosed during December 2016 and as well those in the prospective phase, were called to either inform them about the study (its objectves,