Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Facing HIV Infection and Unintended Pregnancy: Rakai, Uganda, 2001 -2013  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Jul 2017  
 
Reviewer: Endalkachew Assefa  
 
Reviewer's report:  
Title: Facing HIV Infection and Unintended Pregnancy: Rakai, Uganda, 2001 -2013  
Reviewer: Endalkachew Mekonnen (MD)  
 
Comments  
1) Abstract  
In methodology part….. A cohort of communities of communities of 10,000 -12,000 
adults….repeated  
 
2. Background  
 
1. References after first paragraph of first sentence.  
2. …...Unwanted births (not wanted now or  later), and induced abortions (most of which are 
mistimed or unwanted…  
Did you include/exclude induced abo rtions due to other reasons (like congenital anomaly, 
endanger maternal health…)  
3. Second paragraph, first and second sentences…write the references for each.  
4. Third paragraph, 2nd sentence…write reference.  
5. Unsafe  abortion and death from abortion are only two of many negative consequences of 
unintended pregnancy.   What do you mean, are they different?  
6. A recent Guttmacher report found that the most common reasons that women cite for not 
using contracept ive methods even when they want to avoid pregnancy are: side effects/health 
risks, infrequent sex and breastfeeding or postpartum amenorrhea. A small percentage also cite 
not having access to contraceptives [13].   
Not relevant relat ed to the topic.  
7. Not surprisingly, predictors of mistimed or unwanted pregnancies are often different.  
Not important.  
 
Methods  
Design  
1. from 28 communities foll owed continuously in rounds 8 -5 conducted between 2001 and 20 13 
in Rakai District,…  
What is the interval of rounds?  
2. Interviewers received extensive training and  were matched to the sex of the interviewee.  
What does it mean? One of selection criteria was being a female.  
HIV serostatus  
HIV stat us is collected of every participant agreeing to provide a blood sample (>90%).  
 
What does it mean (> 90%) ?  
 
Other variables  
Household characteristics included socioeconomic status (SES, low, middle and high constructed 
from a series of quest ions about household possessions such as radios and the use of modern 
building materials to construct house [18]  
What is the base to classify SES…the reference is not talking about socioe conomic status? 
Please clarify.  
 
General question  
1. How do you know number of women? And how do correlate to prevalence of current 
pregnancy? Did you census for both at the same time or at different time?  
2. How do you know new HIV infected mothers?  
3. How do you monitor/manage mothers left the community  or lost?  
4. Was there a treatment/ PMTCT service that you provided if they are HIV infected? Because 
ethically it should be intent -to treat.  
5. Don't you think the partner/husband has a role/contribution on pregnancy (i.e. intended Vs 
unintended, wanted V s unwanted; thus may be affected if the pregnancy was supported or 
not)?  
Would you elaborate this?  
 
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.  
Unable to assess  
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supporte d 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 spe cify 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 interests  
Please comp lete 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 financially from the publication of t his 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat 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 currently apply ing 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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