Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Altered social trajectories and risks of violence among young Syrian wo men seeking 
refuge in Turkey: A qualitative study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 13 Nov 2018  
 
Reviewer: chidebe Anikwe  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
 
Please include all comments for the authors in this box rather than uploading your report as an 
attachment. Please only upload as attachments annotated versions of manuscripts , graphs, 
supporting materials or other aspects of your report which cannot be included in a text format.  
 
Please  "If we are alone, of course, someone will harass us on the street": A qualitative study to 
explore risks of violence following displacement aga inst young Syrian women in Turkey 
Manuscript Number: BMWH -D-18-00478  
 
This paper uses data that was collected in Turkey through focus group discussions with Syrian 
adolescents and young people and two mixed gender focus group discussions with Syrian adults 
using the tableau approach. Results showed that there is an increased  sense of vulnerability to 
violence among this group occasioned by their displacement to a new environment due to 
conflict with resultant increased gender -based violence. As a coping strategy, these girls are 
encouraged into marriage to help circumvent soc ial inequalities/challenges to these families 
encumbered by d isplacement from their country.  Restrictive gender norms were employed by 
these families there by predisposing to child abuse.  The authors discussed the implication of the 
results and offer int ervention to address it. This article addresses an important question using 
appropriate  data and analytic approac hes. 
 
I have few comments  
 
 More detail is needed in the sampling procedure.  
 The sample is a purposive sample which is a non -probability s ample method. Why this 
method?  
 What was the sample frame, and how were study participant selected?  
 What was the rate of acceptance for participation in the study?  
 How were they allotted in each focus group?  
 "Parental consent was not obtained due to  the high rate of child marriage under age 18 
years old, and acknowledging that many families had been separated during 
displacement". How many of the study population fell into this group that parental 
consent was not sorted for? How many are married?  
 Table 1 shows Age and sex composition of focus group discussions and I think it will be 
of value if the socio -demographic characteristics of the participant are also a dded or 
shown in another table.  overwrite this text when adding your comments to the au thors.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to  the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects req uire further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or 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?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financi ally from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organiz ation that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of th e above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
'I declare that I have no co mpeting interests'  
 
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