Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Abortion in Nepal: Perspectives of a cross -section of sexual and reproductive health and 
rights professionals  
 
Version: 1 Date: 30 Jul 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Reviewer  2 
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS: To view the full report from the academic peer reviewer, 
please see the attached file.  
 
 
REVIEWER COMMENTS FROM  REPORT: The study participants are mostly from INGOs 
and NGOS while there is only one from the public setor which provides 47% of services 
compared to 43% by the NGO sector. Also there is just one participant from outside Kathmandu. 
This I find to be a we akness.   
 
The data has been collected in 2014, relavance to current status unknown  
 
The methods used for the collection of data and analysis are appropriate  
 
 
REQUESTED REVISIONS:  
 
The data had been collected in 2014 and as such relates to the state of affairs before that as 
people were talking about their impressions from the exposure to services.  
 
If the authors can show that no substantial change has occurred between 2014 and 2018  I 
suppose it is acceptable, but the editor will have to decide.  
 
 
Sampling  
 
According to the authors  "Of the estimated 137, 000 legal abortions performed in Nepal, the 
public 23 sector provided 37% of procedures, 34% were provided at NGO facilities and 29%  
were obtained at private -sector clinics" and it is also stated that in Nepal 1 in 5 people are Urban 
which means nearly 80% are rural.  
 
The sample of providers  interviewed contains just one provider outside Kathmandu the capital 
and only one provider from  the public sector facilities the main provider and that too in 
Kathmandu. I feel that public sector providers in areas outside Kathmandu are not represented at 
all. Problems of service provision as well as the social and cultural problems associated with 
procuring an abortion are likely to be different.  
The way the data has been collected from this very limited sample is good. Inclusion of an 
independent researcher is excellent.  
 
Maybe they can discuss the relevance of data collected 4 years ago as well a s the relevance of the 
sample of interviewees in relation to the rural population to enhance the paper. May I suggest 
that the background contains a little more about health service provision specifically 
reproductive health services in Nepal and also look  at contraceptive prevalence, abortion etc 
urban and rural.  
 
 
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS:  
 
Please see comments above.  
 
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 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.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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3. Do yo u hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
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holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript ? 
 
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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.  
 
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recommendation.  
 
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