Title: Exploring the Multifaceted Correlates of Household Decision-Making Autonomy Among
Married Women in Cameroon
Version: 0 Date: 04 Jan 2024
Reviewer's report:
Summary
The study investigated the Multifaceted Correlates of Household Decision-Making Autonomy
Among Married Women in Cameroon.
The study used data from the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey. Logistic
regression analysis was deployed to check the correlates of household decision-making
autonomy among married women in Cameroon.
The study found that polygamous marriages, Muslim and no religious affiliation, poorer, less
educated, and unemployed were negatively linked with household decision-making autonomy.
Comments:
Thank you for the opportunity to review the article. The finding of the article is interesting and
it reads well. The authors conducted a comprehensive analysis by constructing robust models.
Overall, this paper addresses an important issue. However, a number of improvements are
needed. Some key points are listed below:
Major comments:
*  The authors didn't mention how to select the analytical sample to arrive at the 7,463. It would
be better to add a flowchart for sample selection. A detailed description of the sample selection
process enhances the transparency of the study. It allows other researchers to understand how
the sample was chosen and provides a basis for replicating or validating the findings
*It appears that DHS has several weight variables depending on the specific analysis. The
authors should clarify which weights were used.
*Assess the fit of your logistic regression models using appropriate goodness-of-fit statistics.
Conduct sensitivity analysis to test the robustness of your findings by altering model
specifications. Reporting on goodness-of-fit statistics and sensitivity analysis enhances the
transparency of your research. It provides readers with a clear understanding of the reliability
and robustness of your statistical models.
*Authors should show variations in reporting unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios for clarity. The
adjusted odds ratios could be presented as “adjusted OR” or using the contracted form “aOR/
AOR. And specify which was reported in the abstract.
*Authors should report whether the variables were assessed for collinearity and describe the
variable selection process by which the adjusted model was developed.
Minor comments:
* I would suggest that the topic should be simplified for a broader audience. For instance, the
phrase "unveiling the threads of autonomy" might be somewhat abstract and could be rephrased
for clarity or deleted to read “Exploring the Multifaceted Correlates of Household Decision-
Making Autonomy Among Married Women in Cameroon”.
*  As the covariates adjusted are based on the previous literature, what is new for your study?
*I would recommend that authors follow the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of
Observational Studies in Epidemiology) to guide the writing of their report and attach the
checklist as a supplementary file. The STROBE guidelines play a crucial role in improving the
reporting quality of observational studies, fostering transparency, reducing bias, and facilitating
the critical appraisal of research by the scientific community.
*Line 128…. making to either the husband or, in some cases, the first wife. Agadjanian & Eze
(31)….. correct the citation style to “Agadjanian and Eze (31).
*In the abstract, age is omitted as a significant correlate in the results, consider reporting it.
*In the abstract, the type of logistic regression analysis used should be specified in the methods.
With the above comments and suggestions notwithstanding, the manuscript is well articulated
and discussed in the context of existing literature, making a valuable contribution to the discourse
on women's autonomy. Furthermore, the paper is technically sound and robustly supported by
data. With the consideration of the aforementioned concerns, the paper is deemed suitable for
publication.