Post-publication an investigation conducted by Elsevier's Research Integrity & Publishing Ethics team on behalf of the journal established that a pilot study for this article was carried out prior to the formal ethical approval date from the Institutional Ethical Review Board (IERB) of Debre Berhan University, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus (AWHSC). It cannot be established whether the article complies with the journal's policies on ethical approval.
A Sun, study studied this question.
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