PONE-D-22-24690Construction and validation of the area level deprivation index for health research: A methodological study based on Nepal demographic health surveyPLOS ONE

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PLOS ONE

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Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: N/A

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: The manuscript is well written piece of work and report construction of an important tool for use in health research. There are typos (e.g page 5, first paragraph line 2: ....a total of 26 aggregated and non-aggregated observed were selected that could explain.....) that need to be corrected.

Reviewer #2: 1. Construction and validation of the area level deprivation index for health research: A methodological study based on Nepal demographic health survey

Here, term "health research" used in topic is not explained under study. Also, it has to be Nepal demographic and health survey, 2016. So, Research topic need to be rephrased.

3. Author citation need to be precised; there is repetition of similar working positions.

4. Abstract didn't match body of study. Please follow submission guidelines provided in Journal.

5. In abstract part; Objective and conclusion is clearly missing.

6. In abstract, Most of the sentences is written wrongly.

Example 1; This paper provides a methodological approach to construct and validate the area level construct, the Area Level Deprivation Index especially in low resource setting.

Such sentences don't give any clear meaning.

Example 2; Data was based on secondary data from 2016-Nepal Demographic Health Survey.

Please write the sentence accurately.

7. How construction and validation of the area level deprivation index is done within study? Abstract is not explaining on it.

8. Put Reference before full stop mark.

10. Introduction of study has to be written placing statements in a logical sequence.

11. The definition of area-level deprivation is explained only at the last part (reference 5). Actually, introduction part has to be initiated by explaining clear concept on area level deprivation.

12. Also, there is common mistake like Townsend, suggested a composite measure based on the material (e.g.,

home and car ownership) and social features....

- It is to be written like Study done by Townsend suggests that.....

13. Details on the 2016 Nepal DHS can be found elsewhere [15]. Please clarify elsewhere??

14. Briefly, the Nepal DHS uses multistage stratified random sampling. Explain appropriate research materials and methods used in your study, not in DHS of Nepal.

- Methodological details need to be be rewritten in excellent way.

15. Index development follows previous methodological works and approaches. [3,21-24]. Write how present study methods work in your study.

16. Variable selection was guided by the earlier studies, [11-13,19,20]. Not explained clearly again?

17.In result part, clarify the specific scale used in this study for validation of area level deprivation index. Table and figure is explained differently (not found in order). This is fruitless way to represent your result.

18. Discussion part is not explained correctly. Here, compare your results with other studies and explain reasons for any discrepancies and similarities.

19. Conclusion failed to explain how 15-variable ADI shows strong validity and reliability in this study??

20. Acknowledgement has to be done properly too.

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Reviewer #1: Yes: Professor Abdolreza Shaghaghi

Reviewer #2: No

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Construction and validation of the area level deprivation index for health research: A methodological study based on Nepal demographic and health survey

PONE-D-22-24690R1

Dear Dr. Ishor Sharma

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Omid Dadras, MD, PhD

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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