Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Is economic dependence on the husband a risk factor for intimate partner violence against  
female factory workers in Nepal?  
 
Version: 1 Date: 16 Feb 2017  
 
Reviewer: Rina Pradhan  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
BMWH -D-16-00334R1  
 
Is economic dependence from the husband associated with intimate partner violence against 
female factory workers in Nepal?  
 
 
Sunita Dhungel, MPH; Pabita Dhungel, BSc Optometry; Shalik Ram Dhital, MPH; Christiane 
Stock, Ph.D.  
 
 
 
BMC Women's Health  
 
Review of Is economic dependence from the husband associated with intimate partner violence 
against female factory workers in Nepal?  
 
 
This is cross sect ional study; it is an interesting study representing a vulnerable community of 
women working in carpet factory and how Intimate Partner Violence has influenced their health 
status and quality of life (IPV). IPV is a global issue and different social factor s are associated 
with it. In that aspect, this study could tell a unique story in a low income setting. This paper will 
therefore be of general public health interest in women's health issues and suitable for 
publication in the BMJ.  
 
  
The paper could be b etter if Authors could clarify on the following points.  
 
 
 
Major comments  
 
1. The heading of the article seems not clear to me. Your whole article reflects that 
economic dependency on their husband make women more vulnerable to Intimate Partner 
Violence (IPV)  but the title of the article conveys contradictory concept. Please rephrase 
the title of the article.    
2. In the introduction in Pg. 3 line 56 says "In Nepal, IPV against women is encouraged due 
to ……." What evidence do you have for this claim? Please provide evidence based 
reference before claiming such statements. There are other statements which would add 
validity to your article if you give references. For e.g. line 34 in Pg. 3 when you were 
claiming there different prevalence rate of IPV around the  globe. In Pg. 4 line 4 when you 
were stating that women have less ownership and poorer background.  
 
 
 
3. In the introduction you should also clearly state that why this research is necessary to 
focus on these carpet worker women, the rational you have provided in Pg. 5 should 
come before in Pg. 4 last paragraph which gives more clear message why you are 
conducting this research.  
 
 
 
4. The sample size calculation should be explained more in detail. How did you selected the 
3 carpet factories, was it also convenience sampling? It is not explained. In Pg. 6 line 46 
you have said your questionnaire is based on "d ifferent other studies" which studies? Is it 
based in Nepal or in other countries?  
 
 
 
5. Your questionnaire explanation is too long, can you minimise it differentiating in 4 
broader sections. Most of your questions has been categorised into binary, yes or n o 
answers can you specify explanation only those questions, which has multiple category?  
 
 
 
6. Results pg. 9 line 22 what do you mean by "no availability of sampling frame" It would 
be helpful if you could explain them  
 
 
 
7. In the result section in factors ass ociated with physical IPV you have mentioned all 4 
significant factors, is there any reason why you did not follow the same pattern for other 
factors in sexual IPV where only 2 factors were mentioned where as in the Table 3 
decision making was also signifi cant and in factors associated with psychological IPV 
you have mentioned all significant association except for educational factor; where as 
your table 4 shows the significant association. Why did you omit these factors?  
 
 
 
8. The last paragraph of result se ction is not clear  
 
 
9. The Discussion needs some revision to be clearer and stronger. Discussion should 
summarize only the major findings interpreting what the findings mean. It should also 
explain the implications for policies and programs from these find ings. For e.g. in Pg. 14 
line 46 if you could also discuss how/ why education act as a protective factor? In Pg. 15 
line 7 if you could also discuss why this discrepancy in your findings occurred.  
 
 
 
10. Please give reference to your statement in Pg. 15 line  24 comparing IPV in western and 
Nepali context in Pg. 15 line 31, the whole paragraph "several other factors  showed ….. 
factors to some extent " is not clear. Please explain. In Pg. 16 line 27 "however due 
to………………..intercourse into account" can you plea se clarify what does this mean?  
 
 
 
 Minor comments  
 
1. The result reported in the abstract in the significant factors is somewhat selective, 
economic dependency as well as age of women should also be mentioned.  
 
 
 
2. There are some typos  
 
 
Pg. 3 line 51 "int o" should be rephrased  
 
Pg. 5 line 19 "weakening " did you mean "influencing"?  
 
Pg. 5 line 33 mention the specific age group 15 -49 years  
 
Pg. 13 line 38 " our study…….." whole paragraph is a repetition  
 
Pg. 15 line 19 "economically" repetition  
 
 
 
3. Conclusion should be rewritten to make it more succinct  
 
 
 
4. The authors need to mention about the further  research  
 
 
 
 
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.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
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 st atistics 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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