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: 22 Jan 2020  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Major comments  
It is still not clear which variables were used to control for confounding in the multiple logistic 
regressions. This is  especially important because crude and adjusted ORs are very different in 
some cases and the reader should be able to evaluate if this is due to residual confounding.  
Table 1 should be a descriptive table of the characteristics of the women in both cities . There is 
no need for a reference group nor OR/CIs. The proportion should refer to how much of the 
sample a subgroup represents, and not as a proportion of two subgroups. Ideally, P -values should 
refer to chi -squared tests of differences between cities in  each variable of interest.  
I find it hard to understand why you are presenting ORs in your tables 1 -3. They are all 
descriptive tables, in which the ORs are not adding any valuable information and I cannot get to 
these values by manual estimation. They are barely mentioned in the re sults section as well. I 
suggest dropping the ORs and CIS and presenting chi -squared p -values.  
 
Minor comments  
Introduction (Pg3 -Ln20 -22): are those rates referring to abortions in general or unsafe abortions?  
In the Data Analysis subsection, the way it is  written seems like univariate analysis did not take 
into account the survey design. Please clarify in the text as you have answered in my previous 
that all analyses accounted for the study design.  
In Table 1 I think you meant 'secondary' for education. SD  of age could be in parenthesis in the 
same line.  
Results (Pg13 -Ln15): I think you meant Table 2.  
Results (Pg13 -14): The interpretation of the ODDS for inducted and spontaneous abortion lacks 
clarity  
Results and Discussion: Referring to an association usin g the questionnaire answer "yes" is very 
confusing. Instead, interpret the association and the meaning of answering yes to a given 
question.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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.  
 
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 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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