Data collection
A pre-written FGD guide was used to facilitate the discussions. The guide (Table Focus group discussion guideFGDs were facilitated by two Gambian researchers: an experienced female social scientist, who has successfully collected data on many similar studies with pregnant Gambian women, assisted by a male research clinician. Four were conducted in both the Mandinka and Wolof languages (as participants commonly spoke both languages), with one FGD conducted exclusively in Fula—these are the most commonly spoken languages in The Gambia. Sessions were recorded with participants’ permission, and the audio recordings were later transcribed by the trained field worker who led the interviews, and translated into English. The transcribed texts were independently reviewed (together with the recordings) by two study staff who were fluent in the local languages of the recordings and English. The discussions lasted an average of two hours.