So, instead of advancing with our planned guide and structure, we paused our work and spoke with the women. Our conversation then went beyond the medical applications of FGS. We heard their viewpoints as we listened to their stories and, in doing so, unearthed levels of understanding that went beyond our original objectives.
One woman spoke candidly about her experience, and she made a lasting impression on me. Her story represented the struggle of many women in the community. She said that women do not know about FGS, yet many experienced the symptoms we described, and some of them felt uncomfortable speaking to others about their health. But despite their discomfort, many women had received treatment (contemporary or herbal) that proved ineffective.
After speaking with the women and hearing their concerns, we alleviated their worries about being examined and explained that all data collectors, interviewers and gynaecologists on the team were women. We also decided to pivot to a more personal approach for the qualitative data collection. Instead of running the planned focus group discussions, we conducted an in-depth discussion with each of the women, allowing them to talk privately with us and without other community members present.
