Reviewer’ s report
Title: Intimate Partner Violence and Nutritional Status among Nepalese Women: An Investigation
of Associations
Version: 2Date: 17 Feb 2020
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS: OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear
objective that addresses one or several testable research questions? (Brief or other article types: isthere a clear objective?)Yes - there is a clear objectiveDESIGN - Is the current approach (includingcontrols and analysis protocols) appropriate for the objective?Yes - the approach isappropriateEXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with sufficient technicalrigor to allow confidence in the results?No - there are major issuesSTATISTICS - Is the use ofstatistics in the manuscript appropriate?No - there are issues with the statistics in thestudyINTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable andnot overstated?Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonableOVERALL MANUSCRIPTPOTENTIAL - Has the author addressed your concerns sufficiently for you to now recommendthe work as a technically sound contribution? If not, can further revisions be made to make thework technically sound?Maybe - with major revisionsPEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:GENERAL COMMENTS: The authors did not address any of my comments proper-ly.REQUESTED REVISIONS: 1.Type of IPV: the authors did not respond to my questions about'why controlling behaviors were not included'. It was stated in the manuscript that 'IPV, theprimary exposure variable, was measured based on 13 questions related to emotional, physical,and sexual violence'. However, controlling behaviors are also a type of IPV and were measured inthe NDHS 2016.The authors said 'unable to run models looking at each type of IPV because there
was very little variation that could be explored between types and outcomes.' I cannot understand
why 'unable to run models'. Just include in the model, for example, 3 variables (each for each typeof violence: controlling behaviors (yes/no), emotional (yes/no), and physical/sexual violence (yes/no)2.Severity of IPV: Please have a look at the WHO's study. https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/violence/24159358X/en/3.The explanation about why authors didnot perform a multinomial logistic regression did not make any sense to me. This manuscript issubmitting for publication in a scientific journal, not a technical report. The analysis techniquesused must be scientifically rigorous. With a nominal outcome, you must use multinomial logisticregression. I cannot see any difficulty of interpreting the results of a multinomial logisticregression compared to two separate logistic regression models.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
NoDoes 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.
YesAre 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 statisticsQuality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
AcceptableDeclaration of competing interests
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