Revi ewer’s report  
 
Title: Induced abortion: a cross -sectional study on knowledge of and attitudes toward the new  
abortion law in Maputo and Quelimane cities, Mozambique  
 
Version: 0 Date: 13 Nov 2019  
 
Reviewer: BEATRIZ AYALA  
 
Reviewer' s report:  
 
I think the article is investigating an interesting topic. Below are my comments:  
 
1. I would like to know if the definition of induced abortion includes unsafe aborti ons. It 
is described that induced abortion was defined "as using any method to expel the fetus from the 
womb"; thus, does it include unsafe abortions?, could it be possible to indicate how many 
induced abortions were unsafe abortions (per participants and per cities)?  
 
2. I wonder if the participants were able to understand the differences between definition 
of spontaneous and induced abortions. This is because about 30% of participants (in both cities) 
indicated to have an educational attainment of primary level or less.  
 
3. Could it be possible to know the number previous abortions per category: spontaneous, 
induced and unsafe and per participants and per city?  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your commen ts 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 recommended, please specify what aspects req uire 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  
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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 r elating 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 inter ests?  
 
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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