Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: "The sun keeps rising but darkness surrounds us": a quali tative exploration of the lived 
experiences of women with obstetric fistula in Ethiopia  
 
Version: 5 Date: 03 Nov 2018  
 
Reviewer: Solina Richter  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Dear authors.  
 
 
 
I have reviewed the revisions.  It greatly improved the manuscript.  The manuscript still have 
multiple typographical errors.  I have tried to point it out as much as possible, but it needs 
another good read by a language editor.  
 
 
Abstract:  Please check and decide if you need to change  'life experience' to  ' lived experience'  
 
 
Page 6.  Check the sentence starting with 'Discrepancies on the application…..' .  Change the 
capitalization of 'Following…'  
 
 
Page 7 Line 289. Change 'genital cut….' to 'genital cutting…'  
 
 
Make sure that all the quotes used are appropriatel y indented.  
 
 
Page 18 Line 46 Change 'Fistula..' to lower case.  
 
 
Page 21 When you refer to 'fistula' change it to 'obstetrical fistula'.  
 
 
Page 21 Line 6 Change the sentence 'This is manifested by a maltreatment of the community 
members for fistula patients' t o 'This manifested in maltreatment of community members 
towards women experiencing obstetrical fistula.'  
 
 
Page 23, Change ' Suplmentary' to 'supplementary' at the various places where you are using the 
word.  
Page 23 Lines 41 -42.  Changes 'thems' to 'themes '  
 
 
Page 23 Line  51 Change 'collceting' to 'collecting'  
 
 
Page 23 Line 55 Change 'stractured' to 'structured'  
 
 
Page 23 Line 55  Change 'levele' to 'levels'  
 
 
Page 23 Line 56 Change  'quastions' to 'questions'  
 
 
 Align the references appropriately.  
 
 
I recommend to add more information in further research needed, the implications for practice, 
implications for education.  Recommendations to improve the infrastructure of the healthcare 
system as a standalone recommendation will contribute to increase usage.  Many o ther factors 
influence the use of the health care system, for example, the affordability, the quality of care they 
receive, patriarchal customs that the head of the family decide when women can access care etc.   
 
 
I have enjoyed reading the revised version.   
 
 
 
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 t he 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 manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the qualit y 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 receive d reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly 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 ga in 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 of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or sala ry 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 answ er 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 interests.  
 
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