Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The relationship between under -five child death and maternal mental distress in Gamo 
Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A community based comparative cross -sectional study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 02 Dec 2016  
 
Reviewer: Marja Kaunonen  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
1) Abstract needs some language checking; e g significantly high compared to ---- higher  
 
2) Background starts with average description of mental health. The authors should concentrate 
to the mother's mental health after the death of a child and reason why it is important study 
topic. And how it is r elated to the postpartum depression of mothers.  
There are some inconsistencies  in concepts: maternal mental distress vs common mental 
disorders vs maternal mental health  
3) Study area: please, describe  how the study area is in comparison with larger African ; global 
areas? Why this study would be in interest of readers from other parts of the world??  
 
4) Please, clarify how the data were collected, when a big portion of the participants were not 
able to read or write  
 
5) The results are interesting, however it remains unclear where did you take the timeframe of 3 
years after the death of a child. Did it have a theoretical reasoning ? 
 
6) Please discuss more why these study results would be worth publishing in an interna tional 
journal; why it would interest readers outside the area? Are the results generalizable?  
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.  
 
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 additiona l statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
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, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication 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 p ublication 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 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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