Title: Negotiating the ambiguity of an (in)authentic working life – a grounded theory study into
severe perineal trauma
Version: 1 Date: 01 Apr 2022
Reviewer's report:
The reviewed work is alluring. It addresses the significant yet universal issue of the impact of
severe perineal trauma (SPT) on women's physical and mental health problems after childbirth,
which often affects their work situation.  The importance of the text consists in the nature
of severe perineal trauma (SPT) itself and its importance both individually and socially.
Universality, in turn, is rooted in the fact that the problem addressed by the authors relates to
the issues faced by women with severe perineal trauma (SPT) around the world.
Background and context of the study: The issues addressed by the author are presented from a
local perspective relating to the situation of women in Sweden. Nevertheless, it seems that the
local specifics outlined may not be sufficient for a person from outside this country. Therefore,
it would be worth devoting a little more space to introduce it to future readers of the publication.
Method: The authors present the methodological aspects of their research with great care. They
accurately indicate the research techniques employed that served the researcher in collecting the
empirical data. At the same time, they devote a lot of attention to introducing the subject of the
research and the method of selecting the research sample.
The description of the adopted method itself, although clear, is sparing and does not contain
much detailed information. Therefore, it would be worth writing a few more sentences regarding
the specifics of data analysis using the adopted research method.
Certainly a research attitude with high ethical standards deserves attention and praise.
Research results: The results of the research are shown in a clear, logical manner with a coherent
breakdown of the major categories that emerged from the data analysis. The structure of the
research findings section is clear and organized. Certainly numerous and valuable to the reader
are the excerpts from the female respondents in this book.
Discussion: The discussion is closely related to the findings and results of the study. What is most
missing from the discussion is the connection between the results of this study and the broader
literature. Sometimes it is not clear if statements are based on findings or literature sand some
statements have no reference. There are also times when statements are worded too strongly.
This could be phrased more carefully: this study suggests, our findings seem to indicate ... and
so on.
It might be worth considering (despite individual cases) to present whether and possibly what
differences there would be regarding perceptions about women's experiences depending on their
country of origin and the cultural bases represented.
Also, perhaps worthy of consideration is whether, due to the nature of the research and its
specificity, the gender of the researchers played no role in the acquisition of data and the creation
of the interview situation?
Finally, it might be useful to point out any differences that exist in the experiences of the women
interviewed depending on the type and nature of their professional work (or lack thereof).
With that said, the above issues, if not in this aper, may be worth considering for possible future
research and analysis.
Conclusions and Limitations: The research is summarized by synthetically and systematically
presented conclusions that close the analysis.
The authors also do not shy away from showing the limitations of their own research. In doing
so, they point out implications for possible further studies.
Although the authors mostly use correct spelling, there are sometimes unnecessary periods,
commas. In some parts the texts seems not to have been thoroughly verified in editorial terms.
Despite the above-mentioned defects and deficiencies in the content, bearing it in mind that the
conclusions of the research as well as the problems themselves are highly interesting, and the
subject matter of the paper has not been widely explored in the literature of the subject, the paper
is worth publishing after all corrections are implemented.