Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Intimate partner sexual violence and risk for femicide, suicidality and substance use 
among women in antenatal care and general out -patients in Thailand  
 
Version: 2 Date: 05 Jun 2017 
 
Reviewer:  Sheila  Sprague  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
*There are a number of grammatical errors throughout the manuscript, particularly in the 
introduction and discussion.  The authors should consider enlisting the services of a copy editor 
or academic writer to review the manuscript for grammar and scientif ic writing style.  
 
*While this manuscript addresses an important topic, the IPV prevalence rate reported by the 
authors in this study is substantially lower than prevalence rates reported in other similar studies 
cited by the authors.  The authors have not  provided sufficient explanations or hypotheses for 
this discrepancy.  The discrepancy in findings without sufficient explanation challenges the 
validity of the study results.  
 
*In the previous version of this manuscript (revision 1), the authors stated, " The very low 
reported prevalence of intimate partner violence in this study may possibly be attributed to a lack 
of privacy when the screening interview was conducted since not always a private room was 
available in some of the study hospitals".  This sent ence was removed from the current version, 
however, no explanation was provided in the reviewer comments so it is unclear whether or not 
participants were screened in private.  This is an important methodological issue as well as 
potentially an ethical iss ue.  The authors should be clear as to whether screening was always 
conducted in private and clarify this change in the manuscript.  
 
*Table 3 should include p -vales (similar to how results are presented in Table 4).  
 
*Not all of the previous peer reviewer comments have been addressed.  For example, there 
continues to be inconsistencies in language use around intimate partner sexual violence.  Using 
consistent language would increase clarity and readability of the manuscripts.  
 
Are the methods appropriate an d well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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.  
 
No 
 
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 recommend additional statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
 
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, fee s, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for 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.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the jou rnal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
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to the editors, which will not be published . 
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal