Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Pain in amaXhosa women living with HIV/AIDS: a cross -sectional study of ambulant  
outpatients  
 
Version: 1 Date: 16 Nov 2016  
 
Reviewer: Kelly O’Brien  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This manuscript addresses an important topic of characterizing pain (prevalence, severity, site, 
interference, and management) of pain among women living with HIV in a resource -limited 
setting.  Authors addressed the reviewer comments adequately.  The manuscript is clear and 
comprehensive and includes discussion of the limitations of the study design and discussion  of 
the role of other non -pharmacological management strategies for pain.  Below are two final 
minor remaining suggested discretionary revisions:  
 
 
 
 
 
1) At the bottom of Table 1, please provide a description of how the severity and 
interference scores are inte rpreted (e.g. Pain Score Interpretation: Scores range from 0 to 
10 with higher scores indicating greater severity and interference of pain).  
 
 
 
 
2) Please rename Table 3 to reflect the associations (rather than contributing factor) between 
psychosocial factors  and pain (e.g. Associations between psychosocial factors and pain 
(n=229)  
 
 
This manuscript will make a valuable contribution to the literature and the field.  It was a 
pleasure to review.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate an d well described?  
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.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn a dequately 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 recom mended, 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:  
 
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 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.  
 
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