Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: A qualitative study on coping behaviors and influencing factors among mothers in Japan 
raising children under three years old while in poor health  
 
Version: 1 Date: 28 Sep 2017  
 
Reviewer: Felice Watt  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
The topic is an important and interesting one, unfortunately the English is poor and makes it 
difficult to und erstand and interpret the research findings.  
 
some key words/phrases are not adequately defined especially "physical and mental subjective 
symptoms".  
"coping behaviours" - requires further definition. I am unclear what might be a coping behavior 
and what m ight be a response to a physical symptoms - am confused about the comment re 
mastitis - massage can be a recommended treatment.  
  How do the authors define "proper" self coping behavior?  
"public and private support services" - what are these?  
"fatigue" is referred to frequently - useful if this could be defined.  
 
Although useful thematic material was identified , there appeared to be assumptions made as to 
causation (I am not sure whether this was intended by the authors, or represented  a difficulty 
with a ccurate English translation).  
I note that pregnancy was an exclusion criteria - am unclear therefore why one of the women was 
admitted for "threatened premature delivery".  
Confidentiality of participants - given the small sample size and the detail given a bout 
professional occupation, and that some of these women were known to each other, are 
confidentiality issues compromised?  
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Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
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No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
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Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
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Unable to assess  
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
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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:  
 
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
 
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