Editorial Policies

1. Editorial Independence

The Journal of Advanced Pediatrics and Child Health (JAPCH) maintains full editorial independence. Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit, originality, scientific accuracy, and relevance to pediatric health. The journal’s editorial team and reviewers operate without influence from sponsors, advertisers, or external agencies.

2. Manuscript Evaluation Process

All manuscripts submitted to JAPCH undergo a multi-stage editorial evaluation process:

• Initial Screening: Checks for relevance, originality, and adherence to submission guidelines.
• Peer Review: Double-blind review by at least two independent experts in the relevant field.
• Editorial Decision: Final decision made by the Editor-in-Chief based on reviewers’ feedback.

3. Editorial Board Responsibilities

• Ensure fairness and objectivity in manuscript evaluation.
• Maintain confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest.
• Encourage academic integrity and prevent plagiarism or data manipulation.
• Promote publication ethics and uphold journal standards.

4. Peer Review Integrity

JAPCH employs a double-blind peer review system, where both authors and reviewers remain anonymous. Reviewers are selected based on expertise, ethical conduct, and absence of conflicts of interest. Peer reviewers are expected to provide constructive feedback that supports the improvement of scientific quality.

5. Conflict of Interest Policy

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of the submitted work. Disclosure forms must accompany every submission in compliance with ICMJE standards.

6. Plagiarism and Data Integrity

The journal has a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism, falsification, or fabrication of data. All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection tools. Manuscripts exceeding 10% similarity without proper citation are returned for correction or rejected outright.

7. Ethical Approval

Research involving human participants or animals must have received approval from an appropriate ethics committee. Authors must include ethics approval numbers, informed consent statements, and adhere to the Declaration of Helsinki.

8. Data Sharing and Transparency

Authors are encouraged to share underlying data and materials to promote research reproducibility. Datasets and supplementary files can be hosted on institutional repositories or data-sharing platforms such as Zenodo or Figshare, with appropriate DOIs.

9. Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawals

Corrections or retractions are issued when significant errors or ethical breaches are identified post-publication. The editorial team follows COPE’s Retraction Guidelines to maintain record integrity.

10. Authorship Criteria

Authorship must reflect substantial contribution to the conception, execution, or interpretation of the work. All listed authors must approve the final version and agree to its submission. Ghostwriting and honorary authorship are strictly prohibited.

11. Open Access and Licensing Policy

All content is published under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), ensuring unrestricted access and reuse with proper attribution to the original authors.

12. Advertising and Sponsorship

JAPCH maintains a strict separation between editorial and advertising content. Advertisements are clearly labeled and have no influence on editorial decisions or peer review outcomes.

13. Handling of Misconduct

The journal follows COPE flowcharts for investigating allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, redundant publication, and unethical authorship. Authors found guilty of serious misconduct may face permanent submission bans.

14. Appeals and Complaints

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions. Appeals must be submitted in writing with detailed justification. Complaints about editorial conduct or review bias can be directed to the Editor-in-Chief or the publisher, who will ensure an independent review of the concern.

15. Post-Publication Discussions

Readers and authors can engage in scholarly debate by submitting post-publication comments or letters to the editor. Valid concerns will be acknowledged and, if warranted, corrections or clarifications will be issued.

16. Confidentiality

All manuscript information, reviewer comments, and author identities are treated as confidential. Editors and staff are prohibited from sharing unpublished material without explicit permission from the authors.

17. Policy Updates

Editorial policies are reviewed annually to remain aligned with evolving international standards. Updated versions are published on the journal’s website, and authors are encouraged to review them before submission.