Table 1 Semi-structured interview guide for women affected by fistula

1. Social and demographic background

 — Before/After repair..........

 — How old are you…………………

 — What is your education level? Did you proceed after primary school?

 — What do you do for a living?

 — Where do you live?

 — Who shares a house with you? Are you married?

2. Obstetric history

 — How old were you when you got pregnant the first time? How many times have you been pregnant? How old were you when you got pregnant the last time? Was this last pregnancy your first pregnancy?

3. Can you please tell me about your last pregnancy?

 — Probe: Did you attend antenatal clinic? Did you get the services you expected? Where did you plan to give birth? How far was it from your home? How did you plan to get there? Did you have any problems during your pregnancy? Who did you seek advice from during pregnancy?

4. Can you please tell me about the last time you gave birth?

 — Probe: How long did it take from the onset of labour pains until the child was out? Where were you when labour started? How long did it take you to seek health care after you started labour? What were the reasons for delay? Where did you go first? Who made a decision as to where to go to seek help? What were the constraints/barriers/problems in the process of seeking birth care? Where did you finally deliver? How was your delivery conducted? Who assisted you? Who was present during labour? When you or the ones that assisted you realised that the baby did not come out as expected? What action was taken? What happened after the delivery? Did you go home? Did you remain in the hospital?