Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Timing of  abortion among adolescent and young women presenting for post -abortion care  
in Kenya: A cross -sectional analysis of nationally -representative data  
 
Version: 0 Date: 03 Jun 2017  
 
Reviewer: Joemer Maravilla  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Introduction and Methods section  were well written. The introduction presented the need for this 
research while the methods outlined the recruitment process done. My concern with the analysis 
is the modelling conducted. It seems that the model created was a predictive model and 
therefore , it needs critical approach on putting the variables together in a single model. I suggest 
for the paper to reconsider having at least four models. For example, apart from univariate 
analysis, the authors can conduct all socio demographics (1), 1+ all rep roductive history (2), and 
having a final model wherein all variables with a pvalue of 0.2 from model 2 are included.  
 
 
Results  
 
From the results in Table 3, I suggest the following:  
 
1. Don't use the word prediction as your data is cross -sectional. Correlate s or the term association 
maybe more appropriate.  
 
 
2. Why does this model only explains second trimester abortion? This was not explained neither 
in the methods nor in the results section.  
 
In Table 2, Im just wondering why bivariate analysis was only done i nstead of regression? 
Moreover, the three variables in this table can be incorporated into the Models in Table 3. Why 
is it not done?  
 
 
3. The authors maybe want to perform stratified analysis by age to see the difference in effect 
estimates by age group.  
 
 
Discussions  
 
I feel like the author is putting interpretations which are not shown in the results. For example, 
contraception was not found significant after adjustment. Therefore, accounting its protective 
effect indicates further explanation such as the te mporality of contraceptive use in this dataset - 
which should be acknowledged in the limitation of the study.  
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.  
 
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 req uire 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:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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