Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Modern contraceptive use among reproductive -aged women in Ghana: Prevalence, 
predictors, and policy implications  
 
Version: 1 Date: 27 Jun 2018  
 
Reviewer: Ademola Kojeku  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Firstly, congratulations on a very well designed study. A structured interview with a previously 
validated tool is excellent. The study sample that includes women already accessing health care 
is also very good. It may be important to assure readers that the presentations that brought these 
women into hospital would not have influenced their participat ion or answers that they gave.  
With respect to the write -up, the source quoted for the estimated percentage of unplanned 
pregnancy could be better. As you rightly alluded to, unplanned pregnancy is not always equals 
to unwanted pregnancy. Unsafe abortion is also not always the same as complicated termination 
of pregnancy. Poor contraception use has implications on women with unwanted pregnancies 
involved in unsafe abortions.The financial cost argument was excellent though as it ultimately 
justifies investm ent in any recommendation that you choose to suggest.  
The population of 4 million people in LEKMA needs to be qualified with the percentage of 
women in the reproductive age group. It would reassure readers that the sample size of 217 is 
adequate to draw inferences from the prevalence you calculate. Also, it may be beneficial to 
describe each modality of contraception and attitudes them separately. The paper you quoted 
from Nigeria actually highlights the importance of women sharing experiences. Word of mo uth 
in the absence of high levels of education tends to be as important as population based education 
programmes.  
With respect to the paper as a whole, I believe that recommendations should focus on attitude 
and religious influence as these were the only factors that were statistically significant. The 
question is how do you influence attitudes and religious belief?  
Are the methods appropriate and well desc ribed?  
If not, please specify what is required in your 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.  
 
No 
  
Are the conclusions drawn adequately su pported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is reco mmended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
 
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 the publication of this  
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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?  
 
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below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
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