Reviewer ’s report  
Title: The role of counseling on modern contraceptive utiliz ation among HIV positive women: 
The case of North West Ethiopia  
 
Version: 1 Date: 20 Sep 2017  
 
Reviewer: Jennifer Tabler  
 
Reviewer's report:  
I provide Line By Line comments directly in the manuscript (s ee attached document)  
 
Some main thoughts:  
1) Language continues to be a pervasive issue in the document  
2) Measures are not appropriately described. This is the most critical revision you need to make. 
For each measure, independent and covariates, pleas e provide full operational definitions. 
Examples: Age is measured in years, and individuals are grouped into three categories (x, x, 
x), Received contraceptive counseling (y/n), Reasons not using contraceptives (x, x, x, x). If 
it's a typology (categorical  measure), provide each of the categories/indicators.  
3) Figures should be consistent and should not be in 3 -D, which often translates poorly to 
publication. Also check if color is allowed. Do you even need these figures? You do not 
reference them in the text.  
4) In the Discussion, authors need to explain why  the literature they are presenting is important. 
How does your study fit, and why do we care? Your point is getting lost in the details.  
5) Include additional limitations, but also present the strengths of the study.  
6) When you present results, make sure  you specify your reference category. For example, you 
need to state that the reference category for results pertaining to age is women over age 35.  
7) Title is still awkward as written, please revise  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
No 
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 am able to assess the statistics  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscri pt: 
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, fundi ng, 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 t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from t he 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 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 com peting 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 have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my  name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made avai lable under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which wil l not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal