Plagiarism Policy

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the act of presenting another person’s ideas, findings, or words as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes direct copying, paraphrasing without credit, self-plagiarism, and unauthorized reuse of previously published materials. JAPCH follows the definitions and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Types of Plagiarism Considered Misconduct

• Direct Plagiarism: Verbatim copying of text, data, or images without citation.
• Self-Plagiarism (Redundant Publication): Reusing one’s own previously published content without disclosure or citation.
• Mosaic or Patchwork Plagiarism: Borrowing phrases or sections from various sources without adequate attribution.
• Image/Data Manipulation: Altering figures, graphs, or datasets to misrepresent findings.
• Improper Paraphrasing: Restating ideas from other works without significant originality or acknowledgment.

Screening Procedure

All submitted manuscripts are subjected to similarity checks using industry-standard plagiarism detection tools such as iThenticate, Turnitin, or PlagScan prior to peer review. The process includes:

• Initial screening by the editorial office upon submission.
• Secondary verification before acceptance to confirm originality.
• Evaluation of similarity reports by the Editor-in-Chief for context-based assessment.

Acceptable Similarity Threshold

A manuscript is considered acceptable for peer review if the total similarity index does not exceed 10% (excluding references, quotations, and commonly used phrases). Textual overlap beyond this threshold must be justified or corrected by the author prior to acceptance.

Handling of Suspected Plagiarism

Cases of suspected plagiarism are managed according to COPE’s Flowcharts for Handling Misconduct. The editorial team will:

• Request a written explanation from the corresponding author.
• Conduct independent verification using similarity tools and expert review.
• Reject or retract the manuscript if plagiarism is confirmed.
• Inform the author’s affiliated institution or funding body if necessary.

Consequences of Plagiarism

Authors found guilty of plagiarism may face one or more of the following actions:

• Immediate rejection or withdrawal of the manuscript.
• Publication of a formal notice of retraction in case of post-publication discovery.
• Notification to institutional authorities and funding agencies.
• Blacklisting of authors from future submissions.

Author Responsibility

Authors must ensure that all quotations, ideas, and data derived from other sources are fully cited. Prior to submission, authors are encouraged to use plagiarism-check software to review their manuscripts. Self-archived preprints or conference abstracts must be transparently cited and disclosed.

Reviewer and Editor Role

• Reviewers are requested to report any suspected plagiarism during the review process.
• Editors ensure fairness and confidentiality during investigation.
• Decisions regarding ethical misconduct are taken collectively by the editorial board following COPE guidelines.

Retraction Policy for Plagiarized Articles

If plagiarism is confirmed after publication, the article will be retracted immediately, and a retraction notice will be issued on the journal website and indexing databases. The original text will remain online with the watermark “Retracted” to maintain transparency and scholarly record integrity.

Best Practices for Authors

• Paraphrase genuinely and cite all sources accurately.
• Use quotation marks when directly reproducing text.
• Disclose overlapping data from previous publications.
• Verify similarity percentage before submission using plagiarism detection tools.

Appeal Process

Authors who disagree with a plagiarism verdict may appeal by submitting a detailed explanation and evidence to the Editor-in-Chief. Appeals are reviewed independently by the Ethics Committee to ensure impartial resolution.

Contact Information

All ethical and plagiarism-related queries should be directed to:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pediatricshealthjournal.com