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: 2 Date: 10 May 2020  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Minor comments  
Tables: The chi² value could be dropped from all tables as it adds nothing when interpreting the 
results.  
Study setting (P5, last line): There is a typo in the % women aged 15 -24 years.  
Data analysis (P10, lines 19 -24): The following phrase is repeated. "Univariate analyses 
consisted of descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies or proportions".  
Data analysis (P10, lines 45 -48): There is no need for "variables" after cova riates since 
covariates are already variables by definition.  
Data analysis (P10, lines 45 -55): Prediction and causal explanation are distinct goals within the 
data analysis process. This study aims at the latter, in which your covariates were used to contr ol 
for confounding. (This just came out and reads well on that difference: 
(https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyaa049 ) 
 
Additional comment  
As shown in Table 1, there are several differences in sociodemographic characteristics between 
cities. This could explain th e negative confounding observed in Table 4 where several ORs 
became larger e/or significant after adjusting. This will be left as an observation and could be 
discussed/added as limitation, if desired.  
 
 
 
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:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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5. Do you have any other financial competing inter ests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
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below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no com peting interests  
 
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