Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Feasibility of thermocoagulation in a screen -and-treat approach for the treatment of  
cervical  precancerous lesions in sub -Saharan Africa  
 
Version: 0 Date: 17 Oct 2016  
 
Reviewer: Joshi Smita  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
1. The authors have described that all HPV positive women (either HPV 16/18/45 positive or 
positive for other HPV types) were screened with VIA/VILI. It is not clear what was done 
when VIA was positive and VILI was negative? Please clarify if  VILI was only perf ormed 
to delineate the lesion and then make appropriate changes stating that all women who were 
HPV positive were screened with VIA / triaged with VIA (and not VIA and VILI).  
2. It is not clear why a follow -up period of 1 month was decided?  
3. Backgrou nd section, 1st para: authors should explain why a 'screen -and-treat' strategy is 
recommended as compared to conventional 'screen, diagnose and treat' strategy.  
4. Please mention the correct full -form of LEEP.  
5. The text of the 1st reference is not cor rect. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer 
among women worldwide and not cancer related deaths.  
6. Please mention the cost difference between cryotherapy and thermocoagulator. Please 
mention about the procedure for sterilization of the probe after use.  
7. Page 12, para 2: please correct the sentence on rows 5 and 6 which mentions about the 
further prospective studies --. Further prospective studies should focus on long -term efficacy 
of cold coagulation in cure rate/ prevention of CIN/ cervica l cancer (an not short - and long 
term development of cancer).  
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.  
 
No 
 
 
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 th e manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
 
Qual ity 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 financially from the publi cation 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 curr ently 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 that I have no competing interests.  
 
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