Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Socioeconomic and religious differentials in contraceptive uptake in western Ethiopia: a 
mixed -methods phenomenological study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Feb 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Jones  Adjei  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
This is a good study addressing an important developmental issue affecting Ethiopia. Below are 
some ideas to improve upon the quality of this manuscript.  
 
Title: The title lacks clarity. It is not clear what "Determinants of contraceptive services in 
religious and socioeconomic differentials" means. It will be ver y helpful if this is restated in a 
way that is clear and concise enough.  
 
Also, the title gives an indication of a multi -level study. Although a multistage sampling 
technique was used in selecting study participants, this does not make it a multi -level study. In 
multi -level analysis, you will have to test for the potential effec t of clustering. What is rather 
evident is that the study used a mixed -methods approach.  
 
Introduction: Please provide a rationale for selecting the Oromia region as the study area in the 
introduction section.  
 
Study variables: For all of the study variabl es, it would be helpful to have greater detail. For 
example, what were the exact questions asked on the survey to measure the concepts 
operationalized into the independent and dependent variables?  
 
The statement "whereas the independent variables were acce ss to FP services, and utilization of 
FP services" should change to "whereas the dependent variables were access to FP services, and 
utilization of FP services"  
 
Results: Provide a reason for combining Catholics and Protestants together for the quantitativ e 
analysis. It is well known that Catholics and Protestants have very different set of doctrines 
concerning the use of modern contraceptives.  
 
This statement on Page 10 lines 4 -6 is not clear: "Seventy -one percent of women reported ever 
use of FP methods, of whom 76% were protestants, 75% Orthodox, and 61% Muslim."  
 
On Page 8 lines 44 -45, one reads that "Implant was relatively highly preferred method as 
compared to other methods." However, one reads on Page 10 lines 8 -12 that "Injectables were 
the most com monly ever and currently used modern contraceptive method (62.7% and 66.2%) 
followed by implants (5.1% and 18.8%)". This seemingly contradiction needs to be addressed.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in y our 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 
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 t he 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 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 g ive details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named rep ort 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal