Revi ewer’s report  
 
Title: Induced abortion: a cross -sectional study on knowledge of and attitudes toward the new  
abortion law in Maputo and Quelimane cities, Mozambique  
 
Version: 1 Date: 20 Jan 2020  
 
Reviewer: BEATRIZ AYALA  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Concerning the requested data about the number of previ ous abortions per category 
(spontaneous, induced and unsafe), participants and city; the authors answered that they had 
included this information in Table 2. However, there was not any information about unsafe 
abortions in Table 2 and it was not clear whic h data were shown in the categories "abortion 
pregnancy 1"…."abortion pregnancy 5".  
 
In addition, the authors indicated that "we can say that of the 85 participants that answered these 
two questions 59 (69.4%) of the abortions could be considered safe, an d 17 (20.0%) unsafe. 
While 9 (10.6%) of abortions were performed by the formal provider, it is not possible to assess 
whether it was a safe or unsafe abortion, since the pregnancy was terminated outside of a health 
facility, in a location of which the cond itions are not known." Could the authors assure that there 
were not any spontaneous abortions among "the 85 participants that answered these two 
questions 59 (69.4%) of the abortions could be considered safe, and 17 (20.0%) unsafe (…)". 
This is because wom en with spontaneous abortion would come to hospital for the respective 
treatment.  
 
Furthermore, according to Table 2, there was 99 induced abortion and 140 spontaneous 
abortions. Could the authors explain why there was only 85 participants in the category 'abortion 
provider', and a total of 85 participants for  'Health facility' (with 59) and Out of health facility 
(with 17)?.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your commen ts 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 additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects req uire 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:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents r elating to the content of the  
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below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interest s 
 
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