Data Collection and Management Quantitative Close-ended questionnaires were administered by clinicians to women with fistula seeking fistula repair. Interviews were carried out in the hospital environment in a private setting and lasted about 15 minutes. Subsequent to the interview, a physician carried out a physical examination to understand the type of fistula the woman experienced and its size and location. Qualitative Two researchers with backgrounds in anthropology and vast experience carrying out qualitative studies led the field work. Both researchers have received extensive training on qualitative data collection, including approaches used when interacting with respondents, conducting open-ended questioning with an emphasis on probing, note-taking, and writing up and expanding upon field notes and ethical issues related to carrying out research. In Lodja and Kabongo women were recruited to translate questions from French into the local language and responses from the local language into French. The researchers were responsible for training the female translators. Criteria for selection of these women included the ability to speak French and the predominant local languages of the area, a minimum of a high school education, and good interpersonal skills, with a preference for women who had already carried out research. Interviews and group discussions were only carried out in a private setting; if privacy could not be adequately maintained, the researchers changed the location of the interview or rescheduled the interview for a later time. In-depth interviews took anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 hours; if additional time was needed to complete the interviews, more than one session was held. For the interviews, the researchers took detailed notes during the interview and expanded upon their notes shortly after the interview was completed. Researchers paired up to lead group discussions, with one acting as a moderator and a second taking notes; discussions were tape recorded and transcribed subsequent to their completion. Data Analysis Analysis of the quantitative data was carried out on SPSS. As qualitative data was collected, a coding system based on the initial research questions and objectives, theoretical concepts, as well as emergent themes generated though the data, was developed by the investigators for the qualitative data analyses. Content analysis was used to identify and compare trends of key concepts in the coded data. Data triangulation was employed to identify only those concepts that could be validated through a combination of data sources, such as multiple interviews and group discussions. Ethical Review
Data Collection and Management Quantitative Close-ended questionnaires were administered by clinicians to women with fistula seeking fistula repair. Interviews were carried out in the hospital environment in a private setting and lasted about 15 minutes. Subsequent to the interview, a physician carried out a physical examination to understand the type of fistula the woman experienced and its size and location. Qualitative Two researchers with backgrounds in anthropology and vast experience carrying out qualitative studies led the field work. Both researchers have received extensive training on qualitative data collection, including approaches used when interacting with respondents, conducting open-ended questioning with an emphasis on probing, note-taking, and writing up and expanding upon field notes and ethical issues related to carrying out research. In Lodja and Kabongo women were recruited to translate questions from French into the local language and responses from the local language into French. The researchers were responsible for training the female translators. Criteria for selection of these women included the ability to speak French and the predominant local languages of the area, a minimum of a high school education, and good interpersonal skills, with a preference for women who had already carried out research. Interviews and group discussions were only carried out in a private setting; if privacy could not be adequately maintained, the researchers changed the location of the interview or rescheduled the interview for a later time. In-depth interviews took anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 hours; if additional time was needed to complete the interviews, more than one session was held. For the interviews, the researchers took detailed notes during the interview and expanded upon their notes shortly after the interview was completed. Researchers paired up to lead group discussions, with one acting as a moderator and a second taking notes; discussions were tape recorded and transcribed subsequent to their completion. Data Analysis Analysis of the quantitative data was carried out on SPSS. As qualitative data was collected, a coding system based on the initial research questions and objectives, theoretical concepts, as well as emergent themes generated though the data, was developed by the investigators for the qualitative data analyses. Content analysis was used to identify and compare trends of key concepts in the coded data. Data triangulation was employed to identify only those concepts that could be validated through a combination of data sources, such as multiple interviews and group discussions. Ethical Review