Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Experiences of Female Sex Workers Using Contraceptive Methods: a qualitative study in  
Kenya  
 
Version: 1 Date: 21 Nov 2017  
 
Reviewer: Roger Ingham  
 
Reviewer's report:  
Potentially a very useful article that reveals the reality of living in a lower income country and 
needing to engage in SW to survive. I think the material needs to be organised rather more 
tightly, and some normal c onventions for reporting research adopted more consistently.  
 
The introduction / background is quite brief and tends to be a little too descriptive - and some of 
the themes identified from previous research do not seem to be raised in the current study's 
FGDs. In this sense, what is this current study adding to the current knowledge base.  
 
Means by which participants were recruited is a little too vague - how many refused, etc. Were 
incentives provided?  
 
First paragraph of Results section needs attention f or English (and minor improvements needed 
throughout)  
 
No indication as to how widespread the different themes were. Were there disagreements 
amongst participants? Did all contribute? Age variations in experiences reported? How much 
was actual experiences as opposed to what they think other people do?  
 
End of page 7 - repeated quote from R3 (acceptable if a different point being made, but given 
there were 81 participants one would not expect to see the same quote twice)  
 
page 9 - use of female condom? Popul ar with FSWs and clients? Affordable? Available? More 
insight needed here for this product  
 
The Discussion raises a number of new studies and issues which are not related to the data 
presented (for example, was abortion raised as a topic for discussion; i f so, why no data 
reported? Was it seen as unavoidable and a risk worth taking? etc.)  
 
Discussion seems to ramble somewhat and lacks a clear structure or flow  
 
Discussion should include recommendations for future interventions - not relegate these to the 
Conclusion  
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.  
No 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an addition al statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
Not relevant to this manuscript  
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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