Reviewer’ s report
Title: Factors influencing women’ s sex work in a Lebanese sample Results of a case-control study
Version: 1Date: 05 Apr 2020
Reviewer: Teresita Rocha-Jimenez
Reviewer's report:
The revisions done to this manuscript improved the quality of the content of this study. However,
there are key elements that still need to be revised and that were not addressed in this version. Thepaper is not yet suitable for publication.The authors are discussing a highly complex theme and are trying to explain pathways into the sextrade. However, given the study design of this study, you cannot prove causal effects, only if youhave followed the participants since they were children you could say certain elements lead themto sex work. Authors can find associations but they cannot affirm that there is a causal relationshipbetween the independent variables and sex work. Additionally, the quality of the language writtenit is not suitable for publication. A native speaker or an editor should revise this paper. Only theabstract has critical grammar mistakes that make it very hard to follow.
Abstract.
Background. It seems that there is a sentence missing before, "it is, therefore…." As it is now it isnot clear why it is interesting to explore the factors…. If you start a sentence with therefore it isneeded to state something before."Leading to women sex work" Is not properly written; "leading women to sex work" is the properway of saying this. Again, the methods that you are using do not allow the authors to state this. It
is recommended to say factors associated, factors that may explain, that may be related, etc. Please
revise all the paper accordingly.Enhance means increment, it is believed that you are not explaining why sex work has increased inLebanon or is this the goal of the paper?Methods in the abstract are not properly written. Controls were chosen from the same "living area"as the sex worker what? As the sex workers who are in the control group? If the cases SW are inprison how is this possible?
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
NoDoes 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.
NoAre 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 furtherassessment 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:
Not suitable for publication unless extensively editedDeclaration of competing interests
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