Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Associations of attitudes and social norms with experiences of intimate
partner violence among married adolescents and their husbands in rural Niger: a
dyadic cross-sectional study
Version: 
1 
Date: 
27 Dec 2019
Reviewer: 
Edmund Ossai
Reviewer's report:
Review comments
Title
This may require a review
Abstract
The objective of the study was not stated
Methods
Sample size, study design and sampling technique were not indicated
Results
Details of the study results should be presented
Include the adjusted odds ratios and 955 confidence intervals
The proportion of the women who have experienced IPV was not included
The proportion of the men who have perpetrated IPV was not included
Conclusions
What are the implications of study findings?
General
Be consistent with reference style, refer to Journal guidelines 
Review manuscript for errors of grammar
Avoid use of numerals in body of manuscript. This could be confused with
reference numbers.
The manuscript is very lengthy and should be reduced to enhance
comprehension.
Background
Objective of the study was not stated
Methods
Research question
This is partly a justification for the study and objectives and should be included
under background
Study setting
Part of the information here ought to be in the background.
This should be considered as it will help in reducing the length of the
manuscript.
Data collection
Sampling technique was not explained
Randomly selected should be replaced with using a simple random sampling
technique of balloting
Bear in mind that in using a probability sampling technique, the sampling frame
should be indicated.
Measures
Explain the study instrument properly. Was it designed by the researchers, was it
pre-tested?
Who were these research assistants, give an explanation.
Dependent variable
State the outcome variable. This is important.
Independent variables
The descriptions should be brief and included under data analysis.
Table 1
Comments on table 1 is much
Cross-check the comments with information on the table
Table 2
Where is the table on bivariate analysis?
This table is not properly presented
Where are the reference categories for the variables? This related to all the tables
on logistic regression analysis.
No indication of adjusted odds ratio and 955 confidence intervals
Table 3
Report only important findings
Why find predictors in bivariate analysis?
If it is bivariate analysis, why were proportions not indicated?
P value should be indicated in three decimal places
P value is a probability and should be indicated as p=0.00, instead it should be
p<0.001. 
What is the meaning of NS?
No indication of 955 confidence intervals in the table
Table 4
P<0.01 is not an indication of statistical significance, but a cut off value for
inclusion into the logistic regression model. This should be corrected.
If there was a multivariate analysis that involved attitudinal and social normative
predictors and socio-demographic characteristics why use Association in the title
of the study?
Figure 1
This is not well explained.
Where were the p values derived?
Discussion
No mention was made on the proportion of women who have reported IPV and
comparison with the results of other studies.
Only few references were used.
Limitations
The length of this section should be reduced
Conclusions
What are the implications of research findings?
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The length of this section should be reduced.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
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.
Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not,
please explain in your comments to the authors.
No
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 recommend additional statistical review
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 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 interests
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