Decision Making within the Built Environment as a Strategy for Mitigating the Risk of Malaria and Other Vector-Borne Diseases

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I would thank the authors for this submission.

However, I am not able to tell what is the key research question to be addressed.

This article has mentioned the built environment, but no substantial research could be found on the aspects of building factors and the Malaria. 

More work could be required to justify the research question, and relevant method. Based on a proper method (even for a review article), a series of logical analysis and discussions could therefore lead to a proper result.

Author Response

Reviewer 1:

1.       However, I am not able to tell what is the key research question to be addressed.

a.       The key research goal has been explicitly stated both in the opening paragraph and where applicable reiterated in the body of the paper.

2.       This article has mentioned the built environment, but no substantial research could be found on the aspects of building factors and the Malaria.

a.       Some of the aspects have been embedded in the introduction to set the tone

b.       There is a new section with an analysis closely related building factors and malaria work starting from page 5. We have also synthesized the information in Table 2

3.       More work could be required to justify the research question, and relevant method. Based on a proper method (even for a review article), a series of logical analysis and discussions could therefore lead to a proper result.

a.       A methods section – starting from page 6.

Reviewer 2:

1.       A common practice in scientific papers is to include a brief paragraph at the end of the Introduction in order to indicate the structure of the document. This helps the reader to have an accurate idea about the organization and facilitates the reading.

a.       The authors have added an overview of the rest of the paper at the end of the introduction - see page 5, second half of the paragraph.

2.       As far as the formal aspect of the article is concerned, I think there is one fundamental point missing from the article: the conclusions. The article, although it includes some final notes, does not have a specific point for conclusions.

a.       The authors have addressed a conclusion and further work section.

3.       Another important aspect to take into account is the bibliography, there is a lack of references from authors who have reinforced the premises of the article.

a.       See the new section 2 which gives a review of closely related work. It is worth noting here that the premise of the paper is: “built environment professionals are not being adequately resourced in efforts focusing on managing the risk of malaria”

4.       A discussion comparing with other authors is needed.

This has been addressed partly in the introduction and also in the new section. The analysis done (see methodology) is based on a rigorous review that is presented in a new section (see Key findings)

5.       In the end of the manuscript I think is important to present the recommendations for future studies.

a.       The last section includes specific examples of areas for further research.

6.       References should be expanded and a larger number of the MDPI group should be entered.

a.       All references in the works cited have been expanded. More MDPI groups have also been added (please refer to end of works cited section).

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The objetive of this study was to examine the Built Environment as a Strategy for Mitigating the Risk of Malaria and other Vector-Borne Diseases.

The study is interesting but it needs some changes before publication:

A common practice in scientific papers is to include a brief paragraph at the end of the Introduction in order to indicate the structure of the document. This helps the reader to have an accurate idea about the organization and facilitates the reading.

As far as the formal aspect of the article is concerned, I think there is one fundamental point missing from the article: the conclusions. The article, although it includes some final notes, does not have a specific point for conclusions.

Another important aspect to take into account is the bibliography, there is a lack of references from authors who have reinforced the premises of the article.

A discussion comparing with other authors is needed.

In the end of the manuscript I think is important to present the recommendations for future studies.

References should be expanded and a larger number of the MDPI group should be entered.

Author Response

1.       A common practice in scientific papers is to include a brief paragraph at the end of the Introduction in order to indicate the structure of the document. This helps the reader to have an accurate idea about the organization and facilitates the reading.

a.       The authors have added an overview of the rest of the paper at the end of the introduction - see page 5, second half of the paragraph.

2.       As far as the formal aspect of the article is concerned, I think there is one fundamental point missing from the article: the conclusions. The article, although it includes some final notes, does not have a specific point for conclusions.

a.       The authors have addressed a conclusion and further work section.

3.       Another important aspect to take into account is the bibliography, there is a lack of references from authors who have reinforced the premises of the article.

a.       See the new section 2 which gives a review of closely related work. It is worth noting here that the premise of the paper is: “built environment professionals are not being adequately resourced in efforts focusing on managing the risk of malaria”

4.       A discussion comparing with other authors is needed.

This has been addressed partly in the introduction and also in the new section. The analysis done (see methodology) is based on a rigorous review that is presented in a new section (see Key findings)

5.       In the end of the manuscript I think is important to present the recommendations for future studies.

a.       The last section includes specific examples of areas for further research.

6.       References should be expanded and a larger number of the MDPI group should be entered.

a.       All references in the works cited have been expanded. More MDPI groups have also been added (please refer to end of works cited section).

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have made the required changes and provided solutions to the main shortcomings.