Boene, Helena
Mocumbi, Sibone http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2475-2560
Högberg, Ulf
Hanson, Claudia
Valá, Anifa
Bergström, Anna
Sevene, Esperança
Munguambe, Khátia
Article History
Received: 24 December 2018
Accepted: 14 January 2020
First Online: 31 January 2020
Ethics approval and consent to participate
: Ethical approval for this study was granted by the Faculty of Medicine Institutional Review Board (CIBS FM&HCM/33/2015, dated 28 August 2015). Written and oral informed consent was sought from each participant before data collection and after explaining the purpose of the study, the data collection procedures, confidentiality and voluntary participation including the right to withdraw from the study at any time without consequences. For the illiterate participants a literate witness was involved in the consent process whereby they were asked to read and explain to the participant the contents of the participant information sheet. The consent form was signed by the witness and the field worker, after the participant’s fingerprint was taken. All identifiable participant data were codified through attribution of unique identification numbers or pseudonymous to guarantee anonymity. When needed, the respondent was identified by stating the administrative post or the province in the illustrative quotes. All women diagnosed with fistula were referred to Maputo Central Hospital, the higher level care in Mozambique, where they received repair surgery free of charge. The target groups included two women under the age of 18. Those aged less than 18 years were asked about their willingness to participate. Thereafter, informed consent was obtained from their parents or legal guardians, and additional assent was then obtained from those participants.
: Not applicable
: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.