PONE-D-19-33768

Do factors across The World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework explain perceived caregiver availability for community dwelling older adults in Ghana?

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr Awuviry-Newton,

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Reviewers' comments:

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Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Partly

Reviewer #2: Yes

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

Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: I Don't Know

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: WHO-ICF is an essential topic among researchers. However, I think that the vital elements are not provided to understand the findings. Also, the introduction and discussion would not be strong arguments. It requires additional literature reviews.

ABSTRACT

The background is missing.

INTRODUCTION:

1. The introduction needs to have extensive literature reviews linking to what the authors examined. Especially any relationship among the WHO-ICF and caregiver availability is not clear. Please describe how the authors use the WHO-ICF model in caregiver availability well. Why did you use the WHO-ICF? Instead, you can use the social support theory.

2. Please explore more about the relationship between physical disability and caregiver more in details

3. What are your hypotheses?

Methods.

3. What is the terminally ill? Please define it.

4. understudy sample, Did you collect the data from the participants of the WHO on AGEing and adult health study? It is not clear.

5. Please include the references for the measurements. Some of them came from the articles. How about the rest?

6. Data analysis. Please write more details about the software, code to obtain the odds ratios.

7. The order of subsection n the method section is not correct.

8. Please explain the relationships between the selected variables and subdomains in the WHOICF.

Discussion

The first paragraph is repetitive, like results. Please summarize it.

Please exam your findings based on your hypotheses.

Since Ns of variables per domain is small. Instead of using the WHO-ICF, it would be better to examine the variable itself. Like marital status, chronic conditions. Your findings are similar to previous studies. Please explain why and how it happened. Please expand your conclusions to your unique area for the implication section.

Reviewer #2: This is an interesting manuscript that is worthy of publication.

A few minor points that need to be addressed:

The first sentence of the second paragraph of the intrduction does not make sense "...they need to do to live and those they most cherish." In addition, the reference that goes with this and the examples of self care is inappropriate (Shiel) and does not illustrate the point. 3rd paragraph of the introduction - the Heaton reference is not listed. Last paragraph of the introduction - the WHO 2002 references should read 2005.

In the methods section, it is unclear as to whether the participants had to come back into the hospital to complete the survey, or if it was completed during their hospitalisation. If they had to come back, this is a bias because more participants with caregivers might be expected to have been able to arrange to come back than those without, i.e. the sample will be biased towards those with support.

In the results, in the third sentence of the paragraph 'Bivariate analysis' the sentence "Participants with no caregiver available had some no form of non-government support" does not make sense. In the paragraph commencing 'In Model 6...', the sentence "Participants living alone was not statistically significant" needs completing.

Discussion last sentence of third paragraph repetition of the word 'modernisation'.

References: the Ghana statistical Service reference is not cited in the text.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Do factors across the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework relate to perceived caregiver availability for community-dwelling older adults in Ghana?

PONE-D-19-33768R1

Dear Dr. Awuviry-Newton,

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

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With kind regards,

Frédéric Denis, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments: