Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Surmounting difficulties to provide home based neonatal care - reflections of community  
health workers  
 
Version: 1 Date: 14 Aug 2017  
 
Reviewer: Pamela Botchway  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
The article 'Surmounting difficulties to provide home based neonatal care - reflections of 
community health workers' is well -organized with clearly identified methodology. It clearly 
shows that community health workers play an important role in improving the health of pregnant 
women and their newborns. However, they do encounter challenges in trying to provide care.  
The article is clear and easy to understand, however, there were some lines in the article that did 
not read well. These are outlined below:  
 
 
Page 7: Line 7  
 
In a landmark study demonstrated reduced neonatal mortality by the home based neonatal care 
model delivered through the CHW.  
 
 
 
Page 12. Line 11  
 
Are view of the data for how Sakhis facilitated a change in these practices showed that, in 
addition to conducting group -based educational activities that targeted change in entire 
community, …..  
 
 
 
Page 14. Line 6  
 
In this situation, using an analogy, a Sak his explained her about the need to take medication by 
comparing change in farming practice with the change in method of caring for a pregnant 
woman.  
 
 
 
Page 21. Line  3  
 
The role of a supportive network would be crucial as they fell back on the supervisors when 
faced with operational and clinical difficulties.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, p lease 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.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supp orted 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 require 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  
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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on my report to the a uthors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer  review policy of the journal