Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Short -term Acceptability of female condom use among low -fee female sex workers in 
China: a follow -up study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 08 Jun 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Mags  Beksinska  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
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This is a short term acceptabil ity trial to novice sex workers in a sub population of Chinese sex 
workers.  
 
Title: the title should clearly state : short term acceptability, there is a great deal of literature on 
acceptability in many high risk groups. although this is in a low - fee gro up i do not feel the 
article is bring out out anything new? There are many articles on short term use and a one month 
follow up is very limited as there is a huge practice affect with FC use.  
 
The introduction mentions other sex worker studies in China. Th e authors indicate that they were 
not low -fee sex workers? but there is no information on how this was assessed. What is the 
current FC programme in China to these women. are there FCs available to them in a 
programme?  would the result of this study make FCs available? can they afford them?  
 
Methods: can you add how the sample size was calculated, how recruitment took place? was it 
all women offered who earned that amount, every Xth woman? who were they selected? in the 
venues.  
 
Results: The results show mi nimal interest in continuation? its a shame there was no further 
follow -up. It is very difficult to make recommendations on those who used 1 -2 or even two 
times.  
 
The discomfort experienced is unusually high? higher than I have ever seen in the literature.  
were they trained properly? I am suprise at the too noisy? this is rarely mentioned in other 
studies. Discomfort of the PATH womens condom is very rare I think some mentione should be 
made that this is not the case with other users of this device.  
 
W 
 
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.  
 
No 
 
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 additional statistical review is recommended, please specify 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  
 
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