Reviewer’ s report
Title: Overview and factors associated with pregnancies and abortions occurring in sex workers in
Benin
Version: 0Date: 29 Feb 2020
Reviewer's report:
Overall I find the manuscript in very good condition. I recommend the following changes:
Abstract -
Page 2; Line 23 change "ended up with an abortion" to "ended with an abortion"
Introduction -
Page 3; Line 33-46 - The terms unintended and unwanted are used interchangeably, but arguablyhave different definitions. The language should either be consistent or the distinction in the termsshould be explained.Page 3; Line 49 - "Ill reproductive health". I'm not sure ill is the best work here. Perhaps "poor"?
Methods -
In the database merging sections in the methods and then in the results the authors appear to listdifferences in the number of combinations tested. Please review and correct or clarify. Methodsstate "We explored five combinations of seven variables" Results state " We tested "eight differentsets of variables". Further I only count 6 variables in the list provided on page 5 line 47-50" 1)month and year of birth 2- Country 3 - Religion 4 - Education 5 - Age at debut 6 - age entered sex
work.
Page 6; Line 53 should fewer be "fewest"
Page 7; Line 18 - has should be "had"Page 7; Line 32 add the percentage in this sentence "Over half (x%) of women worked in the ..."Page 7; Line 45 "Only 21.5% of the FSWs were childless..." should this specify in 2013?Page 7; Line 56 - "FSWs surveyed in 2016 had been..." add as compared to those surveyed in2013.Page 8; LIne 59 - change uses to "use"Page 9 Line 36 "increase in the likelihood of resorting to abortion" - resorting to seemsjudgmental. I would recommend changing this to choosing or having an abortion.
Discussion
Page 10; LIne 14 - Same as above, change the word "resorting" to something elsePage 10; LIne 9 - Change "less pregnancies" to "fewer pregnancies"Page 10; Line 46 - "considering the context those children will be raised" - this also comes off asjudgmental. It's not clear what the authors concern is. This should be clarified. It could beinterpreted as the author's being concerned about FSWs raising children, but I'm not aware of any
evidence that women in sex work are worse parents than other women.
Page 11; Line 1 - change "overly" to "over"
Page 11; Line 25 - change "negotiate condom" to "negotiate condom use"Page 12; Line 41 - change "less abortions" to "fewer abortions"Page 13; LIne 31 "that at worst" remove this phrase from that sentence.Page 13; Line 36 "...we certainly underestimated" —you know that you did or you could have?
Page 14; LIne 15 - change "ended up with an abortion" to "ended with an abortion"
Table 2
Label the chi-square column - "Chi Square for difference between survey years" or something like
that.
Provide a denomination unit for the "money received" categories in this table.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
YesDoes the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
YesAre 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 furtherassessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statisticsQuality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
AcceptableDeclaration of competing interests
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