Title: Mother’s perceptions and concerns over sharing sexual and reproductive health
information with their adolescent daughters- A qualitative study among mothers of adolescent
girls aged 14-19 years in the developing world, Sri Lanka
Version: 1 Date: 17 Mar 2023
Reviewer's report:
Title: Mother’s perceptions and concerns over sharing sexual and reproductive health
information with their adolescent daughters- A qualitative study among mothers of adolescent
girls aged 14-19 years in the developing world, Sri Lanka
Thank you very much for the opportunity to read your manuscript. The manuscript is well-
presented and reads well. I would suggest the following to enhance the quality of the manuscript.
Abstract
• The abbreviation “SRH” should be explained when you use it for the first time.
• Should be “parent’s ability…”
• “Parents’ ability to provide individualized sexuality education to suit the needs of their children,
their family, and societal values, and the fact that children have more opportunities in the family,
makes parent-based sexuality education of children a better approach to Sri Lankan context.”
This sentence is too long and therefore the meaning is not clear. I would suggest rewriting this
or making two short sentences.
• Suggest rewriting “The findings were presented in…”
• I would suggest writing how the sample was recruited. Whether it was a purposive sample, or
did you use snowball method? Or anything else?
• Suggest rewriting “she may face at this age…”
Introduction
• Explain what is meant by the abbreviation “STI” when you use it for the first time.
• Explain what is meant by the abbreviation “ASRH” when you use it for the first time.
• “A qualitative study carried out in Sri Lanka in 2008 suggested that although Sri Lankan parents
are keen on providing SRH information to their adolescents”. Is this sentence incomplete? Or
you may delete “although”
• I feel like you have given more space for the “school curriculum and teachers” which is not
relevant to this study [according to your objective].
• I would suggest further justifying the importance of your study, what is the gap in the literature?
And why you need to explore mothers’ perceptions and concerns, without writing only one
sentence at the end of the introduction.
Methodology
• How did you select mothers for the study [what method?]
• How did you identify if a mother is having a psychological impairment?
• “All steps were taken to ensure the credibility, transferability, dependability, and
conformability of the data gathered.” Please explain how?
• I assume that the FGDs were done in your native language. How did you use this to analysis?
Did you translate transcribed interviews? Please explain.
• You did not mention how many participants you included in this study.
Results
• “Among them were sexual and reproductive health issues faced by an…” the meaning of this
sentence is not clear.
• Should be “SRH problems, and mothers’ suggestions to overcome the challenges…”
• I would suggest explaining each theme and subtheme more. Do not write only the quotes. You
can describe each theme briefly and how that theme explains your objective.
• “Theme 2- Reasons sexual and reproductive health problems among adolescent girls” Should
add “Reasons for sexual and …”
• I am afraid whether Themes 1, 2, and 3 are relevant to your objective.?
Discussion
• Delete the extra “that” in “attributed to the fact that that…”
• You do not need to describe your findings again in the discussion. Discuss how your findings
are different and similar to other national and international studies, what your study adds to the
literature, and how can those issues raised by the mothers can be addressed. ect…
• You can move those phrases describing the findings to the Results section.