Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Does women's caste make a significant contribution to adolescent pregnancy in Nepal? : A 
study of Dalit and non -Dalit adolescents and young adults in Rupandehi district.  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Nov 2017 
 
Reviewer:  Jalal Safipour  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
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This paper is addressing a very important health subject about adolescent pregnancy in Nepal. I 
have only one main concern about the age of study participants and the study focus. In the 
background section the adolescent's age refers to age 15 -19 and the legal age of marriage in 
Nepal stated as age 18. However, in this study data were collected among 14 to 24 years old 
women. At this point I don't see any argument about why this age group selected for this study. 
In the data  analysis section (table 3, 4), the data was analyzed based on pregnancy under the age 
20. It is not clear why age 20 was selected as a cut -off point (why not under age 18).  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please 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 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 require further 
assessme nt 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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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 c ontent of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, 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?  
 
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below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare tha t I have no competing interests -JS 
 
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