Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Magnitude, trends and causes of maternal mortality a mong reproductive aged women in 
Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance System, Eastern Ethiopia  
 
Version: 0 Date: 04 Aug 2017  
 
Reviewer: Shumayla saifi  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Dear Author, The  manuscript is written very well with appropriate and scientific way. But I 
would like to suggest you to site more references at the places you are giving numerical data or 
in the support of your result. For instance on page 10 line 9, your study reports p artner violence 
and transport accidents as a major cause of maternal mortality in Ethiopia. I would suggest you 
to nourished such findings with references.  
 
 
Secondly, you have used a large and secondary data. It would have been better if, you apply 
some ad vance statistical tests. These tests will make your manuscript better.  
 
The methodology is very well explained.  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and w ell 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 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 rec ommended, 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 compet ing 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 fr om 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 competing 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, plea se give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named  report 
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