Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Women's Experiences of Rectovaginal Fistula: An Ethno - Religious Experience  
 
Version: 0 Date: 01 Nov 2019  
 
Reviewer: Richards Onifade  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
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attachment. Please only upload as attachments annotated versions of manuscripts, graphs, 
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COMMENTS  
 
Was the semi structured interview used for data collection  validated?  
 
Can the author include a sample questionnaires as appendix duly numbered ?  
 
Was the findings validated based on their stated criteria of Lincoln &amp;  Guba? If so,please 
state explicitly for the readers.  
 
Discussion  
Line 52: How does the finding in their study justify this statement ?  
 
Your data showed More than a 1/3 ( 35.7%)  of sufferers sustained the injury from 1st sexual 
intercourse - what is the recommendation to reduce this staggering figure?  
 
20% was a direct result of surgery. What recommendation are you preferring to remedy this?  
 
Prolonged Labour is only slight high er as causation -40%. What recommendation?  
 
All the women are housewives and not in gainful employment ; can this be an indicator of 
socioeconomic determinant of ill health?  
 
Themes suggested for broader discussions in the papers Conclusion  
 
Availability of obstetrics services  
Isolation and secrecy leading to non engagement with treatment  services  
Legislation to prevent early sexual intercourse/ marriages  
Multidisciplinary efforts including mental health services for sufferers  
Education and women's empowerment  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quali ty of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years receiv ed reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content o f the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any  non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing i nterests.  
 
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