Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: "We are responsible for the violence, and prevention is up to us": A Qualitative Study 
of Perceived Risk Factors for Gender -Based Violence among Ethiopian University Students  
 
Version: 2 Date: 19 Jul 2019  
Reviewer: Reviewer 2  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
"PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:  
 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses one or several 
testable research questions? (Brief or other article types: is there a clear objective?)  
No - there are minor issues  
 
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including c ontrols and analysis protocols) appropriate for 
the objective?  
Yes - the approach is appropriate  
 
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with sufficient technical rigor to 
allow confidence in the results?  
No - there are minor issues  
 
STATIS TICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?  
N/A - there are no statistics in this study  
 
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and 
not overstated?  
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasona ble 
 
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Has the author addressed your concerns 
sufficiently for you to now recommend the work as a technically sound contribution? If not, 
can further revisions be made to make the work technically sound?  
Probably - with minor r evisions  
 
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:  
 
GENERAL COMMENTS: Thank you for the opportunity to review this manuscript. Overall, 
it is well -written and contributes to an understudied area of inquiry. The authors have 
addressed, appropriately the critiques from the prior reviewer. I do believe additional detail is 
needed in the introduction and methods section to strength clarity about the contribution of 
the paper and credibility of the data. These comments are presented below.  
 
REQUESTED REVISIONS:  
- The introduct ion would benefit by adding a paragraph at the end that describes the 
gaps in current knowledge and how this study will address those gaps. In other words, what is 
the purpose of this study and why is it needed?  
- Please describe more specifically how the purpose of the study was described to 
students, both in recruitment flyers and during data collection. This framing is important for 
understanding the results. For example, the results focus entirely on male -to-female violence. 
Was the study framed in the way (e.g., "We are interested in learning more about GBV 
victimization among women at the university") or was it framed more generally and only 
male -to-female violence was reported by participants? Similarly, did you provide a definition 
of GBV and IPV to participants or did they decide what this constitutes on their own?  
- The two data collection methods (i.e., individual interviews and focus groups) have a 
high potential of producing different results, particularly when discussing sensitive topics, 
such a s GBV. Did you specifically look for differences based on data collection method or 
otherwise account for potential differences? Similarly, did any important differences emerge 
between students and faculty?  
- You state that interviews were conducted in the  language preferred by the participant. 
Please describe the process that was used for translation. Were the transcripts coded in the 
original language or translated then coded? Some of this can be inferred in the limitations 
section, but should be explicit ly described in the methods."  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to t he 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.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
 
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 o f 
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 give details below.  
 
This reviewer has been recruited by a partner organization, Research Square. Reviewers with 
declared or apparent competing interests are not utilized for these reviews. This reviewer has 
agreed to publication of thei r comments online under a Creative Commons Attribution 
License attributed to Research Square and was paid a small honorarium for completing the 
review within a specified timeframe. Honoraria for reviews such as this are paid regardless of 
the reviewer reco mmendation.  
 
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 report  including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the 
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any comments  which I do not wish to be included i n my named report can be included as 
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal