Title: Frequency of Human Papilomavirus and associated factors in gypsy and quilombola
women
Version: 2 Date: 13 Aug 2022
Reviewer:  Sara C. Soto-de León
Reviewer's report:
The authors performed a characterization of HPV in gypsy and quilombola women populations.
This type of work represents the minorities whose information must be communicated to the
public as it provides tools to the scientific community, regional authorities, and society for the
needs of their territories. However, this manuscript requires several adjustments to be considered
for publication in this journal.
A series of suggestions are provided below:
ABSTRACT
In the abstract in the methods section, remove the number of women included in the study as
this is a result. When mentioning OR, is authors should indicate the statistical model used.
In the results section, the description should start with HPV frequency and then the cytologic
findings. Write the n= in all percentages mentioned.
Throughout the paper, you should check and unify if you write the percentage first and the n
in parentheses.
In the conclusions of the abstract... "lineages and sublineages were not evaluated."... I suggest
that if they were not evaluated they should not be described in the conclusions. They should be
limited to the conclusions of their study.
The keyword "Group with ancestry from the African continent" could not be found as a Mesh
term, I suggest changing it.
INTRODUCTION
Page 3 line 58 should be the first paragraph of the introduction. Starting with global information
and ending the introduction with specific region information and the aim of the study. After page
4 line 74 should be the description of the population mentioned in paragraph1
Page 4 line 75: that paragraph should be rewritten, it is not well understood.
METHODS
The description of a cross-sectional study does not need to be incorporated in the document,
remove.
Page 4 line 96 should include the population of the city of Caxias, the state of Maranhão because
as Brazil is a big country, mid-size is difficult to interpret globally.
On page 5, line 105, the authors mentioned that 145 women, that is the total population, had
been characterized previously, how do the authors know that number?
How was the sequencing of HPV types performed, and which kit was used?
Mention the statistical model used for odds ratio estimation.
Lines 136 to 138 are unnecessary, remove them.
Table 1 wasn´t inserted.
Roma in line 160, represents a region with a specific population, it is not clear. Consider using
a map.
Lines 160-164 remove the left 0.
In table 2, try to include the minority membership in each region or community. How many
gypsies were there in each region?
Line 177, You already used the HPV acronym, keep using it.
Figure 1. Consider using a map to explain those findings instead of the figure with data that
could be included in the text. I suggest explaining graphically where those populations live and
their HPV frequencies. (the text has citations of graphic 1 instead of figure 1, unify that).
Figure 2: Translate information from Portuguese.
The researchers mention a questionnaire of 46 questions at the sociodemographic level but do
not let the public see information on age, lifestyles, people with whom they live, sexual partners,
variables that can give information to the public to understand the dynamics of these population
groups. There is a lack of discussion of information between these two groups, it is not clear
what kind of lifestyles make them different, how they present themselves in this community,
and without more representative and differential information, this ends up being a very local
report of frequencies. Ideally, this information should be used as a guideline for communities in
Brazil and the world when characterizing minorities.