Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Cervical cancer knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of women aged at least 25 
years in Harare, Zimbabwe  
 
Version: 2 Date: 01 May 2019  
 
Reviewer: Amos Mwaka  
Reviewer's report:  
Dear Authors,  
 
This is great advance. The manuscript is a lot more palatable now than ever before. 
Congratulations.  
I do have just a few essential minor comments for you to deal with.  
1. The language usag e with tendency towards comparing findings between women with and 
those without cervical cancer. This tendency is in a number of places including lines 189 
"Cervical cancer patients had better knowledge . . ." than who? Remember all the participants 
in the  quantitative study are now cervical cancer patients only. So remember to revise this 
tendency out of the manuscript in all areas where they may be. This is also glaring in lines 
191 to 192.  
This is understandable given that the original manuscript had bo th cervical cancer and non -
cervical cancer participants. So, just take your time and revise all of such comparative statements 
out of the manuscript.  
 
2. Abstract  
(i) You may want to include the effect sizes (OR) alongside the factors associated/not associ ated 
with cervical cancer knowledge of causes, prevention etc.  
(ii) "Most women participants . . ." Note that all the participants in the quantitative component 
are women, and in particularly women with cervical cancer. So do rephrase the sentence to 
reflect this fact.  
(iii) It is important to put by the side of statements expressing magnitude the actual figures - 
numbers and proportion e.g. Most (n= ... %).  
 
3. Edits/typos  
(i) Theme 1: ... of limited of knowledge . . .  
(ii) The state "This sample size . . ." could be revised out without hurting anyone.  
 
4. Surprising unexplained findings.  
It is perhaps surprising that watching TV daily is associated with low knowledge of cervical 
cancer prevention, causes etc. If this was  noted and explored in the qualitative component, then 
add a section in the results. Otherwise, take notice of the surprising result in your discussions and 
or limitations.  
Kind regards  
Are the methods appropriate and well descri bed?  
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 specify 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 interes ts 
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 publ ication 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 current ly 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 det ails below.  
 
'I declare that I have no competing interests'  
 
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