Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The degree of bother and healthcare seeking behaviour in women with symptoms of pelvic 
organ prolapse from a developing Gu lf country  
 
Version: 0 Date: 27 Jun 2017  
 
Reviewer: Carol Bugge  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is an interesting paper about 'bother' and 'healthcare seeking' in women in a Gulf country.  
In that it offers perspectives from Gulf located women, who are not currently represented in the 
published literature about prolapse bother and help  seeking, it is a useful addition. The paper is 
relatively well written but some editing of English lanaguage is needed prior to publication. The 
points below could also usefully be addressed prior to publication:  
1. Can the authors clarify for an internat ional readership the context of the women attending the 
'family development centres'.  Are these women at the centres to seek medical help?   This is 
important because if the woman are already attending to seek help this has implications for 
the findings t hat the authors should transparently address.  
 
2. I have read the previous paper (referenced as 7 in this manuscript)where the authors refer to 
the questionnaire validation being described.  I would like to see greater detail in the paper 
about the question naire validation; in particular, the questions that aim to ascertain if the 
woman has symptoms 'suggestive of POP'.  This is important to give the reader a sense of 
which women are likely to have responded in a way that is 'suggestive' of POP.  This point 
should be picked up in the discussion as it contextualises the sample for the reader.  
 
3. The results are clearly described with good use of tables.  
 
4. The discussion and links to existing literature are useful.  The authors may wish to draw on 
some of the incontinence literature about help seeking from similar cultures which may 
inform some of their discussion e.g. HAMID, T.A., PAKGOHAR, M., IBRAHIM, R. and 
DASTJERDI, M.V., 2015. ''Stain in life'': The meaning of urinary incontinence in the context 
of Musli m postmenopausal women through hermeneutic phenomenology. Archives of 
Gerontology and Geriatrics, 60, pp. 514 -521.  
 
Overall, a likely useful addition to the literature with some clarification and editing required.  
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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.  
 
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.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscri pt: 
 
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 received reimbursements, fees, fundi ng, 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 t he 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 of 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 com peting 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 I have no competing interests  
 
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