Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: WASH Practices and its Association with Nutritional Status of Adolescent Girls in 
Poverty Pockets of Eastern India  
 
Version: 1 Date: 19 Apr 2019  
 
Reviewer: Premananda Bharati  
Reviewer's report:  
This present manuscript contains an important aspect of health and nutrition of the economically 
poor group of adolescent. However in between WASH and Nutritional status of the target group, 
there are number of factors effecting both the outcome variables as the authors mentioned in the 
method section but in my opinion, these are the vital factors for describing the outcome of 
nutritional status. If this paper will be published, then authors should write all the study 
limitation in a separate heading in the  discussion section. I think this study is in the half way 
mark from its larger project objectives. Therefore, if possible temporal data may be incorporated 
in the manuscript in order to understand the change. Besides, instead of nutritional status by 
using anthropometric  indices, authors may use the another health comes, directly related to 
WASH. Apart from that there will be major editing required in the text and tables. Overall this is 
an important study in Indian context but needs to think critically t he interrelationship between 
WASH and nutritional status of the group.  
Are the methods appropriate and well descri bed?  
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.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
 
Declaration of competing interes ts 
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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 publ ication of this 
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3. Do you hold or are you current ly applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
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5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
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below. If your reply is yes to any, please give det ails below.  
 
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