Title: A qualitative study of Influences on the Uptake of Contraceptive Services among people
of Reproductive age in Uganda
Version: 1 Date: 22 Jun 2022
Reviewer:  Yolandie Kriel
Reviewer's report:
Methodologically this appears to be a good study that asks two important questions - what are
the main influencing factors that impact the uptake and use of contraception, and secondly, what
are the main sources of information and how is media used in this regard. Because there are two
main questions in this paper I found the presentation of the results and discussion overwhelming
and unclear. The argument and focus were lost towards the end.  My first recommendation
would be to split these results into two separate papers which could greatly help with focusing
on each topic. This will also help with a better application of the SEM model as not all the results
presented fit into this model.
Secondly, this paper needs a thorough revision for spelling, grammar and sentence structure.
The paper starts off well, but from the results section to the end of the paper the grammar really
makes it difficult to read. I felt that the argument was truly lost because of this issue.
Thirdly I found that the results section was very long but lacked sufficient supporting quotes. I
would recommend that the lengthy, information-dense paragraphs be broken into smaller parts
with more direct quotes from the data to support the findings reported.
Lastly, the discussion section was a repetition of what was discussed in the results. I would
recommend that there is less discussion in the results section. In the discussion, relate the main
findings to the literature.  Also, there is no limitations section - please add this.
Below are some specific comments.
Abstract:
Please check the grammar and spelling.
Literature section:
I found the literature to be extremely brief. No literature on the topic is discussed. I would
recommend some additional reading and presentation be included here to further motivate the
importance of the study. This will also help with the discussion later on as the findings can be
related to the literature.
Methodology
Study methods, selection of participants and data collection
Please include the breakdown of the adolescent participants here.
Lines 129 - 147 - adding some percentages will be helpful.
Line 177 - should it not read intercoder disagreement?
Line 184 - needs a reference at the end of the sentence.
Line 190 - check the spelling of ' helps'.
Results:
Please revise the spelling, grammar and sentence structure of the whole section to improve the
clarity of the findings.
Line 203 - should it not read, influences on contraceptive use instead of to?
Line 210 - check spelling
Line 222 - explain what injectaplan is.
Line 226-227 - this is a very broad and all-encompassing sentence. I would recommend
throughout the results section to edit for these types of sentences where all the participants are
blanketed under a specific finding.
Line 244 - 257 - the paragraph captures more than just friends and peers but includes side effects,
knowledge and cultural beliefs. Please clarify. This is also a very dense paragraph. I would
recommend that this paragraph be broken into smaller sections with supporting quotes.
Line 262-265 - Are the participants referring to personal experiences or rumours of other
peoples' experiences?  The supporting quote seems to point to what people have heard and not
experienced themselves.
Line 280 - 285 - please revise for grammar and sentence structure as the meaning is lost.
Line 287 - 317 - This section is very dense yet lacks sufficient quotes. I would recommend
adding more quotes and breaking the long paragraph into smaller ones.
Line 289 - 290 - Again I would recommend avoiding the use of such all-encompassing language.
Line 294 - 295 - This sentence seems out of place in this paragraph.
Line 301 - 302 - Did they advise them and force them, or force them only? Seems a bit
contradictory to have both options in one sentence.
Line 319 - 330 - Please revise for grammar and update with more academic language.
Line 382 - 384 - Perhaps add a quote here to support the finding reported.
Line 395 - 400 - Please add a quote here.
Line 402 - 403 - just to note that cultural values and community influences are two separate
concepts.
Line 419 - As mentioned at the top, I wonder if this section of results should be included in
this paper?
Line 437 - 443 The quote seems to be from an adolescent participant. Perhaps use a quote from
a KI or re-phrase the preceding sentence.
Line 445 - 451 - please add a supporting quote
Line 454 - 463 - please revise for grammar.
Line 461 - 463 - Is a full stop missing, or is there another part to this sentence?
Line 474 - 475 - please revise. 'The study found that the community' not 'study found that
community...'
Discussion:
In the discussion also please highlight how these study findings are different and new compared
to what is already available in the literature. Please revise the discussion for grammar and
sentence structure.
Line 515 - 517 - This finding was not made clear in the results section. Perhaps highlight in the
results that this is the major influencing factor. As it stands it seems that all the factors were
equal.
Line 550 - 551 - This was not presented in the results.
Line 557-558 - This seems to be an incomplete idea?
Lines 565-566 - There is duplication n the sentence.
Conclusion:
This is just a continuation of the discussion.
Please summarize the main points only.
Add a limitations section here.