Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Sexually transmitted infections related care-seeking behavior and
associated factors among reproductive age women in Ethiopia: further analysis of
the 2016 demographic and health survey.
Version: 
1 
Date: 
12 Mar 2020
Reviewer's report:
(please also see attached document)
Overall , this is a well written paper. However, I have several minor and major
concerns particularly around the statistical analysis
* Why people with STI symptoms were included?
* Did you look the difference between people with STIs and STI symptoms
only? 
* What was the distribution? How many women actually had STI vs how many
had STI symptoms only?
* A sensitivity analysis should be conducted by taking STI diagnosis vs not
(excludes symptoms)
In Statistical analysis
* The sentence below is repeating should be combined with the sentence on line
22 
"Descriptive analyses were conducted to describe the characteristics of the study
participants."
* Outcome variable: there is no definition regrading the STI symptoms? How it
was measured? Was there a question to measure if the participants knew what
the correct STI symptoms are? This information should be added
* Statistical analysis section states that "A sampling weight was used for
computing all descriptive statistics…" If it is true, then logistic regression models
were not adjusted for these weights. Is that true? If not stat section should
indicate/explain how logistic regression models were fitted
There is no point to present the "unweighted proportions"
* I think Table 1 & 2 should be combined
In table 3:
* It is not statistically desirable to have estimates 
with vey wide 95% CI such as
Husban occupation: Unskilled 
5.72 (1.30, 25.16) 6.99 (1.34, 36.48)* don't know
23.73 (5.67, 99.38) 12.79 (2.24,73.11)**
* Husband education: Don't know 29.39 (1.75, 493.43) 18.37 (0.68, 498.00); I
suspect these estimates are suffered with smaller sample size. 
* The authors made statements 
with such 
large CIs: e.g. and women who did not
know their husband's job (AOR = 12.79, 95% CI: 2.24, 73.11)
* It is not meaningful to present very 
estimates with large CI; some categories
should be combined such as poorest/poorer, richer/richest
* How about the characteristics listed in Table 1? Why they were not considered
in adjusted analysis? Only ever heard of 
STI and ever tested for HIV? 
* That would be interesting to see the results for all the other demographics such
as age, marital status etc
Competing interests 
It currently says "the authors"; there is one author
"The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest"
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
No
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the
authors.
Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
No
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you
recommend an additional statistical review?
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects
require further assessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statistics
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Needs some language corrections before being published
Declaration of competing interests
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following
questions:
1
. 
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salary from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially
from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
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gain or lose financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now
or in the future?
3
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Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the
content of the manuscript?
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Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an
organization that holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of
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Do you have any other financial competing interests?
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paper?
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interests' below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.
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