Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Assessment of Maya women ’s knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs on sexually transmitted 
infections in Guatemala: A qualitative pilot study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 29 Oct 2019  
 
Reviewer: JORGE Antonio LOPEZ  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
I think it is a complicated scientific work because of the language barrier and the cultural 
difficulty to access information in a complete way. It is difficult to standardize this type of 
survey using an interview mediated by an indigenous language transl ator. However, I rescue 
above all and in despite of the relatively small sample, that in the first place a great lack of sexual 
education in male and female, poor negotiation of the condom and in fact I agree with you in the 
lack of access to preventive he alth programs; without leaving a lake that this population has high 
rates of teenage pregnancies with early sexual life.  
On the paper, I think that a graphic distribution of the sample by age could be included. i think is 
a good job, and more important the  recommendations.  
 
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.  
 
Yes 
 
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 speci fy what aspects require 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 manuscr ipt: 
 
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, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may  in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
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2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
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3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
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4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
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5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
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below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare I have no competing interests  
 
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the jour nal