2.4. Analysis

Data analysis was guided by the principle of transforming lived experience into a textual expression of its meaning using Van Manen's reflexive three‐stage approach. ¹⁷ First, the anonymised narratives were considered as a whole, reading and rereading transcripts to achieve familiarisation. ¹⁸ Second, significant statements related to the experience of care after stillbirth and fistula were highlighted in individual narratives with the use of memos documenting explanations. Next, a detailed approach involved line‐by‐line consideration of narratives and clustering of similarities. Identification of subthemes and main themes resulted from a process in line with Heidegger's key concept of the hermeneutic circle where the researcher moves between the whole and the parts of the data using a cyclical approach. ¹⁴ Analysis was conducted by the primary researcher with support from academic supervisors, before confirming the overall interpretation and definition of the essential nature of the studied phenomenon with input from the wider research and CEI team.