Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Emotional violence and maternal mental health: A q ualitative study among women in 
northern Vietnam  
 
Version: 2 Date: 14 Feb 2018  
 
Reviewer: Timothy McCall  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
The study gives an interesting scientific insight in the emotional violence and maternal mental 
health among women in northern Vietnam. The results of this stu dy documents the associations 
between emotional partner violence and perinatal distress. The authors have made an important 
contribution to the further investigation of emotional partner violence.  
 
 
I still have a few questions or comments:  
 
The background  (page 1) is kept quite short with a ¾ page. In particular, in the first paragraph 1 -
2 sentences could represent the relationships even more comprehensive.  
 
 
 
The last sentence in the methodology (page 2) is an interpretation. This should rather be placed 
in the discussion.  
 
 
In the Data collection and handling line 40 (page 3) "... in the period from September 2014 to 
August 2015 ...", on page 5, lines 31/32 "On August 25, 2014, we went to visit ago ... ". This 
should be checked again.  
 
 
On pages 6, 9, 12,  "had" is double.  
 
 
In the abstract the authors mention an ethnographic interview. However, in the methodology on 
page 3 it says that opend -ended, semi -structured interview guide was developed. This should be 
checked again.  
 
 
A discussion of the methodolo gical procedure as well as possible limitations does not take place.  
 
 
 
 
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 addition al statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
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 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 financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publicatio n 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 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 I have no competing interests  
 
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on my  report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
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which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be in cluded as confidential comments 
to the editor s, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal