Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: A cross -sectional evaluation of HIV testing practices among women in the rural 
Dominican Republic  
 
Version: 2 Date: 27 Dec 2018  
 
Reviewer : Beth Meyerson  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Understanding HIV testing and sexual health in rural communities across the globe is an 
important endeavor. The authors have atte mpted to do this in DR; a country where rural research 
is clearly needed.  
 
The issues with this MS are methodological and descriptive.  They are likely addressable, but it 
will be a major manuscript revision.  
 
Title: The title suggests that the focus is on  HIV testing and sexual health. The manuscript 
methods (outcome variable of interest) and findings focus on HIV testing. Authors should either 
change the title, or clearly weave through the manuscript focus on sexual health indicators as 
well.  
 
 
Methods:  
 
This is a key area of revision. Revisions should be address in the abstract and the paper.  
 
From the writing, it appears that this MS reports findings from a secondary analysis of data 
gathered from a 2016 needs assessment. If this is correct, it should be made clear in the 
manuscript and in the abstract. It does not appear that the needs assessment findings were 
published at any other time, so authors should take care to separate the methods and describe 
them clearly.  
 
The timing of the initial data gatheri ng 2006 should be made clear in the abstract. When was the 
secondary analysis conducted? How were variables changed?  
 
The methods section needs to be more clearly organized to succinctly convey the method of the 
initial needs assessment (survey --- but in person? delivered in person but taken by participants 
independently? language of data gathering instrument? IRB approval?)..... Then succinctly 
convey the method of the secondary analysis...Again, IRB approval? management of data, etc? 
Addition of other se condary data for covariates?  
 
If authors are confused with the comments and believe that this paper was not reporting a 
secondary analysis, then the task is to clearly represent the paper as reporting on an aspect of this 
needs assessment with focus on HIV  testing (or if changed, sexual health).  
No comments on results or discussion sections. The issues with the paper are succinct writing 
and methods section.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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 speci fy 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 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 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 applying for any patents  relating to the content 
of the manuscript?  
 
4.  Have you recei ved 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.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors ' 
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which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal