Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Why Girls Get Married Early in Sarawak, Malaysia - An Exploratory Qualitative Study  
 
Version: 2 Date: 14 Dec 2019  
 
Reviewer: Nan Zhou  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
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Thank you for the opportunity to review the manuscript titled Why Girls Get Married Early in 
East Malaysia? - An Exploratory Qualitative Study (BMWH -D-19-00170_R2). I was the 
previous reviewer for this manuscript. The authors have been responsive to most of m y 
suggestions. Still, there are some concerns that limit the possibility of the publication in the 
BMC Women's Health.  
 
First of all, the introduction was more organized than before but still was not quite closely 
relevant to the research question. With th e importance and significance of the child marriage 
elaborated in the first several paragraphs, it is essential for the authors to explicate why the 
examination of factors contributing to child marriage in this context is critical. The introduction 
of prev alence, the political context for child marriage should be relevant to your research 
question rather than stating it as a separate fact.  
 
Second, not until the method section, the conceptual framework for analyzing the data and 
addressing the research question was stated. This should be made clear early in the introduction 
so that the reader knows how you can address the research question ad equately using what kind 
of method in a specific sample of participants.  
 
Third, several limitations should be noted in addition to those already included in the manuscript. 
For instance, more dynamic data regarding factors contributing to child marriage c ould be 
collected, such as collecting data before they entering child marriage. More stakeholders' 
opinions regarding child marriage could also be integrated.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in you r 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 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 manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy 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, cons idering the following questions:  
 
1.  Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary 
from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the 
publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2.  Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat 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, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing i nterests  
 
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal