Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Women's Experiences of Rectovaginal Fistula: An Ethno - Religious Experience  
 
Version: 4 Date: 13 May 2020  
 
Reviewer: Ana Katherine Goncalves  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
I apologize for the delay. In fact, despite having been teaching gynecology and obstetrics for 
over 20 years, I had many doubts regard ing the interest of the target audience (gynecologists and 
obstetricians) for this article specifically. Considering this, I sought the opinion of other 
colleagues who were also gynecology/obstetrics professors, as well as resident physicians, who 
almost e ntirely thought that the article, although not methodologically incorrect, is not interesting 
for gynecologists and obstetricians. Given the above, I recommend its rejection, suggesting that 
it be forwarded to a magazine that addresses humanistic and socia l issues.  
 
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 a ssess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
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:  
 
Acceptable  
 
 
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.  
 
None  
 
Reviewer Publication Consent. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open 
Access  Creative Commons CC -BY License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 ) if this 
manuscript  is accepted for publication. Any comments that I do not wish to be included in the 
published  report have been included as confidential comments to the editor, which will not be 
published.  If you are not happy for us to publish this report, please contact the editorial office 
before completing  the review.  If you wish, you can include your name in your published report. 
Please note you must  decide whether to include your name at the start of the process and confirm 
this decision whenever  prompted. If you change your decision later, we will not be able to 
publish  your name.  
 
I agree to the terms of the CC -BY 4.0 license; please publish my name with my report.