Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Rejection, Acceptance and the Spectrum Between: Understanding Male Attitudes and 
Experiences towards Conflict -Related Sexual Violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of 
Congo  
 
Version: 1 Date: 10 Jul 2017  
 
Reviewer: Taha Itani  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Please include all comments for the authors in this b ox rather than uploading your report as an 
attachment. Please only upload as attachments annotated versions of manuscripts, graphs, 
supporting materials or other aspects of your report which cannot be included in a text format.  
 
General comment on the manu script  
A very nice manuscript that will be of interest to Journal readership.  
Generally, written very well; a well run designed and run study. The authors need to consider the 
following comments.  
 
Abstract  
Clear and concise  
 
Background  
First sentence: It should read: "Both men and women have been known to…"  
Line 15: Please consider elaborating more on the word "attacks".  
Line 37: Could the authors please mention other potential factors that would be important for 
loss of status.  
Line 41 : The authors did not present a background on historical taboos regarding sexual violence 
before this paragraph.  
Line 26: The authors need to consider elaborating on the possible "outcomes" for survivors of 
SGBV.  
Overall comment: The authors did not prov ide enough evidence about how spousal acceptance 
and rejection would influence outcomes for survivors of SGBV.  
 
Methods  
Line 43 -45: Need to add a citations for "high reported rates of sexual violence" and for "this area 
had limited access to services…".  
Was the semi -structured interview pilot tested? If so, please consider adding details about that.  
Where did the interviews take place? How did the researchers protect the privacy of the 
respondents?  
 
Results  
Line 47 -48: I wonder about the suitability of me ntioning that the average size of each discussion 
was 8.5 people?  
Page 8, line 7: In my opinion, this paragraph does not belong to the Results: "The aim of the 
focus group discussions…". Please consider moving it to the Methods.  
Page 8, line 11: The author s may want to consider providing the criteria that they used for 
assigning more weight to specific factors as compared to others.  
 
Discussion  
Strong and well -written Discussion.  
The authors need to consider discussing the role of religion as a driver of acc eptance.  
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.  
 
Unable to assess  
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 i s 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:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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 publication 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 f or 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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