Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Socio -demographic and behavioural profile of women in polygamous relationships i n 
South Africa: a retrospective analysis of the 2002 population -based household survey data  
 
Version: 0 Date: 13 Apr 2018  
 
Reviewer: Sheila Atogiba  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
BMC Women's Health  
Socio -demographic and behavioural profile of women in polygamous relationships in South 
Africa: a retrospective analysis of the 2002 HIV/AIDS popu lation -based household survey data  
Reviewer recommendation and comments for manuscript No. BMWH -D-18-00056  
 
Sheila Atogiba (Reviewer)  
Summary:  
Overall, this manuscript was well written. However, it can be strengthened by improving the 
methods and results sections. The text is written in proper English language though with 
grammatical errors.  
 
Here are some recommendations and critical statements:  
1. The title is deceptive. There is no results showing the relationship between women in 
Polygamous relations i n South Africa and HIV/ AIDS.  
 
2. Grammatical errors and omission of words should be checked and corrected. For example 
line 1 under factors associated with polygamy among women "sexual……"  
 
3. The sample size should clearly be stated in the methods section.A s well as how the sample 
size was calculated or obtained.  
 
4. Response rates of participating subjects should be reported by the authors.  
 
5. Line 27: no value for "yes ="  
 
6. Which data analysis tool was used?  
 
7. Tables 1 and 2 are unclear. There are discrepancies regarding numbers in tables and in the 
text. 
 
8. No results stated for Table 3 in the results section.  
 
9. There is no title for figure 1.  
 
10. Strengths and weaknesses should be discussed in a self -critical manner as well as the 
possibility of biases (selection bias, information bias) and confounding reflected  
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 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 i nterests, 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  
financially 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 t he content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization 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 the 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 h ave no competing interests.  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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