Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Feasibility and acceptability of using Medical and Nursing Students to provide Implanon  
NXT at the community level in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo  
 
Version: 2 Date: 29 Jan 2019  
 
Review er: Finn Egil Skjeldestad  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Where any pregnancy tests offered at baseline? The 6 pregnancies during first 6  months needs 
some additional information.  
 
Response from authors:  
 
M/N students were supposed to complete an eligibility checklist that included questi ons to rule 
out the possibility of an existing pregnancy. If a pregnancy was suspected, the  student would 
administer a pregnancy test to the woman to confirm. (Because  pregnancy tests are expensive 
and not readily available for community -based provision  in DRC, not all women who presented 
themselves to receive FP services were tested  during this pilot). However, follow -up qualitative 
interviews with the women who  declared becoming pregnant after NXT was inserted indicated 
that the women were in  fact pregnant before the insertion but knowingly lied to the M/N student 
about the date  of their last period, hoping that the implant would have an abortive effect.  
Manuscript (l. 192 - 198) has been edited accordingly.  
 
You need to write that pregnancy te sts were not available in the study!  I don't find the lines 192 -
198 as good enough explanation!!!  
 
The group of "frequent/Heavy bleeding" need a defintion? Is this information just "face value" or 
is it recorded through use of knowledge truse  postings, bi nds, diapers?  
You need to write that this was assessed as "face" value!  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the a uthors.  
 
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 manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects req uire 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:  
 
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, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
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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 competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
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below.  If you r reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
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