Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Violence against housemaids in an Ethiopian town during the early phase
of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
Version: 
1 
Date: 
25 Feb 2022
Reviewer: 
Mohiuddin Ahsanul Kabir Chowdhury
Reviewer's report:
I would like to thank the authors for choosing this neglected issue. The authors
have done a commendable job to conduct this research. However, I have some
comments which are listed below:
Abstract:
* In conclusion of an abstract, you need not to summarize the results. Rather, it
would be better to include policy implication and future direction
Introduction:
* The introduction will be a better read if it is reorganized
* In the 2nd paragraph, the authors may include data regarding violence against
women from other countries of similar characteristics of Africa and Asia, which
can be followed by data from Ethiopia. Some of Ethiopian data is provided in
lines 92-94 which can be brought here
* The 3rd paragraph can be dedicated to the factors for violence in different
settings, that can end with the information regarding Covid
* Finally, the 4th paragraph will provide the rationale and will end with the
objectives of the study. In this paragraph, the authors may include about the data
regarding susceptibility of the housemaids to suffer from violence
Methods and materials:
* Elevation of the town seems unnecessary in the context of research question
* The final sample size calculation of 224 seems wrong and the calculation
might have been mistaken during adding 10% non-response. The number should
be 228, please recheck the calculation
Results:
* There are nine tables in the results section which seem too much for the
readers. It would be great if the authors can reduce the number of tables and add
the narratives of those tables in the section. However, those tables can be added
as supplementary material
* I would suggest the authors to merge table 1 and 2, and then present them in
two group (Experienced violence vs. Did not experience violence), and may
conducted chi square test to give the authors a preliminary idea about the factors
associated with violence
* Table 3 and 8 can be described as narrative
Discussion:
* The 1st paragraph should summarize and highlight the important findings of
the study, It would be a guideline for the authors what you are going to discuss
in the subsequent paragraphs
Overall:
* The manuscript should be copy edited for minor grammatical errors
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
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Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
Yes
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
No
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
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from apparent manipulation?
No