Reviewer ’s report  
Title: The role of counseling on modern contraceptive utiliz ation among HIV positive women: 
The case of North West Ethiopia  
 
Version: 0 Date: 21 Jul 2017  
 
Reviewer: Jennifer T abler  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This study examines contraceptive utilization and associated factors among sexually active 
women receiving ART in North West Ethiopia.  
 
Title:  
The title overstates the findings of this paper. This study does not specifically test t he causal 
association between counseling and contraceptive utilization. Please chose a title that more 
accurately describes what your paper is about.  
 
Grammar & Editing Comments:  
I strongly encourage authors to make an additional round of proof -reading to address grammar 
mistakes (for example, the very first sentence of the paper is a run -on sentence) and 
inappropriate fluctuation between past/present tense (for example, in the abstract alone, authors 
shift in -appropriately between past and present tense. " women who 'are' attending ART clinics.. 
A pretested and semi -structured questionnaire 'was'...).  This paper cannot be published with the 
current volume of grammar errors and awkward phrasing. Also, make sure to cite all sources.  
 
Here are examples of some of the lines with grammar errors:  
PAGE 1: 5 -6, 15 -16 
 
Here are examples of lines that are awkward as written:  
PAGE 1: 18 -23, 53  
PAGE 2: 6 ("another two 'researches'" do you mean, studies?)  
PAGE 2: 22 -25 
PAGE 3: line 56 (study "un it's"?)  
 
Please cite your sources:  
PAGE 1: 40 -43 
 
Background Comments:  
The background section is choppy, and study purpose is unclear. Please introduce how your 
work contributes to the literature in the background section.  
PAGE 1: You use the acronym HIV/A IDS (line 10) before you define it (line 22)  
PAGE 1 -2: What is HAART? Why is it important?  
 
Methods Comments:  
The methods section is choppy as written. Please reduce the number of sub -headings and 
combine into paragraph format. As written, the method sect ion is more of a list than a true 
explanation of methodology.  
 
Please list and describe all specific dependent, primary independent and sociodemographic 
covariates in the methods section. Stating "Sociodemographics" is not sufficient, please list and 
descr ibe the measurement of all variables. Why did you use adjusted odds ratios?  
 
The methods section also includes many grammatical errors. Please extensively proof all 
sections of this manuscript.  
 
Analysis Comments:  
 
Results of this study are extremely limi ted given analytic strategies employed (mostly bi -variate 
associations, and very very limited multivariate logistic regression). in addition, data is cross -
sectional. Please note the limitation of your study's methods, sample, etc. in the discussion 
sectio n. 
 
What does R/H stand for in Figure 1?  
Please define all acronyms in Tables  
Please provide names of analytic techniques in tables.  
 
Discussion Comments:  
The discussion also needs extensive proofing. Please include a limitations section.  
 
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.  
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 manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy 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 manuscri pt: 
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
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, fundi ng, 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 t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from t he 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 com peting 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  
 
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 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