Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Prevalence and correlates of sexual violence among adolescent girls and
young women: findings from a cross-sectional study in a South African
university
Version: 
0 
Date: 
19 Feb 2021
Reviewer: 
Longla Acheliu
Reviewer's report:
The authors have investigated a very sensitive and crucial issue that has a
significant public health impact not only in the study setting but also in most
countries around the globe. The analysis has provided important and interesting
findings, especially on the risk/protective factors of sexual violence. The
presentation of the write-up is clear and easy to read and understand. However, I
had the following comments after reviewing the manuscript. 
ABSTRACT- in the results section, I think it will be better to report the adjusted
odds ratios for the variables that were significantly associated with sexual
violence than reporting the percentages of those who experienced sexual
violence in each category of the independent variables. 
INTRODUCTION- I think it is important to briefly highlight similar studies that
have been done on this issue, especially in South Arica and discuss its
weaknesses. This will then provide a solid basis for the current research which
could improve on these weaknesses. 
METHODS- (section on dependent variable) in this analysis, you aimed to
investigate sexual violence in the life time and previous year but between lines
13-16, there was another option if they had such experience before they reached
16 years. I will like to know if you considered this sub-group in the analysis. 
- (section on data analysis) between lines 14-16, you mentioned that descriptive
statistics were done for categorical variables only, but I presume it was done for
continuous variables as well
- I will also like to know the rationale for excluding married females in the
analysis because they can also experience sexual violence
- Seems there was no predetermined level of statistical significance
RESULTS - In the intext reporting of the results, adjusted odds ratios were not
reported in the section of multivariate analysis. I think for better understanding,
the adjusted odds ratios for the significant risk factors of sexual violence, the
95% CI and the p-values (rather than percentages) should be reported. 
- 
table 2- no name for the third column
- there was only one p-value for variables with three categories. ideally, there
should be two i.e. the p-value of each of the other 2 compared to the reference
category
- table 4 - title shows predictors of lifetime experience only but previous year
experience was also reported in the table. So I think you omitted that in the title. 
- the table is not very readable because the asterixis signs (***) distorted the
entries. I propose another symbol is used so that the entries can fit on the same
horizontal line
DISCUSSION - on line 20, I think there is an omission. it should be 
the
relationship between alcohol use and sexual violence is bi-directional 
- in this study, the episodic use of alcohol was a risk factor for sexual violence.
But on line 24-25, you proposed that a plausible explanation for the association
between religion and sexual violence is because religious people are unlikely to
use substance (alcohol included). I don't think it is a good explanation because it
will imply use of alcohol is in the pathway for the association between religion
and sexual violence but predictors are supposed to influence the outcome
directly. 
Finally, I will also like to know if the authors obtained permission to use the
parent data set from the primary investigators for this analysis because I didn't
see this information.
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