Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Breast cancer screening practices of African migrant women in Australia: a descriptive 
cross -sectional study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 18 Nov 2016  
 
Reviewer: Cynthia Kratzke  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
You submitted a very interesting and well -written study for breast cancer screening practices 
among African migrant women in Australia. Your findings will add to the literature and promote 
further studies. Specific comment s are listed below:  
Introduction. Please provide in the last paragraph a statement for the purpose of your study. (The 
methods section has the aim, perhaps writing requirements for the purpose statement may differ 
among countries; if this is the case, pl ease disregard my comment). This will lead the reader to 
your two sentences in your paragraph that state the rationale why the results are important for 
your population.  
Methods: Was there an IRB process? Was the African version survey in English? If yes , please 
add a sentence. You may want to mention some barriers under instrument tool for 
mammography screening.  
Results: Please double check your numbers in results section with your table for Breast self -
exam (11.4% in paper vs. 8.7% in table) and mammog raphy rates (54.7% in paper vs. 42.8% in 
table). Please double check p value in Table 2, east Africa, Breast awareness as recommended 
(monthly)  
Discussion: In Table 4, we see the CBE practices but in the 3rd paragraph of the discussion you 
mentioned that knowledge as "proportion of this cohort had heard of CBE (42%)". This is not on 
Table 4. Perhaps another table is missing. Excellent points and s ummary about demographics, 
specifically the different regions in Africa and longer migration history.   
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 spec ify 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:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Pleas e 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 financially from the publicatio n 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 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 othe r 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 have no competing interests . 
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is acc epted for publication, my named report  
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