Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Ghanaian media coverage of violence against women and girls: implications for health  
promotion  
 
Version: 0 Date: 12 Feb 2018  
 
Reviewer: Tara Richards  
 
Revi ewer's report:  
Other previous research on media framing of VAW needs to be reviewed in the literature review 
(several studies are named in the conclusion but not reviewed in the front end). For example, the 
current research identifies multiple frames that w ere previously identified by Gillespie et al., 2013. 
Gillespie et al., 2013 should be reviewed in the front end and the current results should be 
compared to Gillespie's results in the discussion.  Research by Richards, T. N., Kirkland, L., & 
Smith, M. D. (2011). Exploring news coverage of femicide: Does reporting the news add insult to 
injury? Feminist Criminology, 6(3), 178 -202 is also relevant regarding the prevalence and context 
of newspaper coverage of violence against women generally especially in the  context of victim 
blaming language.  
 
Additional information needs to be added to the discussion regarding the translation of this 
research into practice/policy implications. Research by Richards, T. N., Gillespie, L. K., & Smith, 
M. D. (2013). An examina tion of the media portrayal of femicide -suicides: An exploratory frame 
analysis. Feminist Criminology, 9(1), 24 -44 will be relevant to adding information on journalist 
training on using media for health promotion and the minimization of contagion effects. Richards 
et al., 2011 is also relevant to the inclusion of DV victim services and DV as a social problem in 
newspaper coverage.   
 
The current research did not find any coverage of murder -suicides - research on IPV homicide in 
the US has found that approxi mately 30% of IPV homicides are homicide -suicides. The authors 
should address the discrepancies in their findings.  
 
The current study did not start with a sample of VAWG cases and assess their news coverage. This 
is a significant limitation in that we do not know whether this news coverage addressed the 
universe of VAWG cases in Ghana or if there was systematic exclusion of some types of cases. 
This limitation should be acknowledged and explained.  
Are the methods appropriate and 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.  
Unable to assess  
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 st atistical review is recommended  please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
Not relevant to this manuscript  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
Acceptable  
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