Paper title: Placental malaria and its effect on pregnancy outcomes in Sudanese women from Blue Nile State DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2028-0 Aim(s): to assess the prevalence and risk factors of placental malaria and its effect on pregnancy outcomes in Sudanese women from Blue Nile State, Sudan. Review due date: 09/06/2020 Section Points to Ponder Review comments and notes

Abstract, title and references ● Is the aim clear?: Yes ● Is it clear what the study found and how they did it?: Yes ● Is the title informative and relevant?: Yes ● Are the references: ● Relevant?: yes ● Recent?: No ● Referenced correctly?: Yes ● Are appropriate key studies included?: Yes

Introduction/background ● Is it clear what is already known about this topic?: Yes ● Is the research question clearly outlined?: Yes ● Is the research question justified given what is already known about the topic?: Yes

Methods ● Is the process of subject selection clear?: No ● Are the variables defined and measured appropriately?: No ● Are the study methods valid and reliable?: Yes ● Is there enough detail in order to replicate the study?: No

Results ● Is the data presented in an appropriate way?: Yes ● Tables and figures relevant and clearly presented?: Yes ● Appropriate units, rounding, and number of decimals?: Yes ● Titles, columns, and rows labelled correctly and clearly?: Yes ● Categories grouped appropriately?: Yes ● Does the text in the results add to the data or is it repetitive?: The text in the results add to the data. ● Are you clear about what is a statistically significant result?: Yes ● Are you clear about what is a practically meaningful result?: Yes

Discussion and Conclusions ● Are the results discussed from multiple angles and placed into context without being over interpreted?: Yes ● Do the conclusions answer the aims of the study?: Yes ● Are the conclusions supported by references or results?: Yes ● Are the limitations of the study fatal or are they opportunities to inform future research?: The limitations of the study are opportunities to inform future research

Overall ● Was the study design appropriate to answer the aim?: Yes ● What did this study add to what was already known on this topic?: The present study determined the prevalence of placental malaria among women delivering at the main hospitals in Blue Nile State, Sudan. ● What were the major flaws of this article?: It lacks sufficient reporting novelty ● Is the article consistent within itself?: Yes

Structure your comments into a full review:

Overall statement or summary of the article and its findings in your own words: This is an engaging article with robust methodology that purposefully questions our knowledge of the subject. However, the process of subject selection and the data collection are not clear, and the results related to the IPTp intake could make this paper more impactful.”

Overall strengths of the article and what impact it might have in your field: This article allows us to know the epidemiology of placental malaria in Blue Nile State, Sudan.

Specific comments on weaknesses of the article and what could be done to improve it: Including the results related to the IPTp intake could improve the article.

Major points in the article which needs clarification, refinement, reanalysis, rewrites and/or additional information and suggestions for what could be done to improve the article. 1. Include the results related to the IPTp intake 2. Revise the section "subject selection" 3. Revise the section "Data collection"

Minor points like figures/tables not being mentioned in the text, a missing reference, typos, and other inconsistencies. 1. Include sampling flow 2. Define the variables 3. Add other risk factors of placental malaria in "Conclusion"