Policies
ADVERTIZING POLICY
The Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM) recognizes the importance of generating revenue through advertising while maintaining the integrity and credibility of the journal. The following advertising policy outlines the guidelines and procedures for advertisements featured in JAM.
1. Scope of AdvertisementsJAM will accept advertisements that are relevant to the journal’s audience, which includes midwives, healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, and stakeholders in maternal and child health.
- Acceptable advertisements may include but are not limited to:
- &emspEducational programs and courses in midwifery or related fields.
- Advertisements must be accurate, truthful, and not misleading.
- Any products or services advertised must comply with relevant healthcare regulations and ethical standards.
- JAM reserves the right to reject any advertisement that is deemed offensive, inappropriate, or not aligned with the journal's mission and values.
- All advertisements must be reviewed and approved by the editorial team prior to publication.
- Advertisers must submit a draft of the advertisement along with a completed advertising request form.
- The editorial team will evaluate advertisements based on their relevance, quality, and compliance with the content guidelines. The decision will be communicated within a specified timeframe.
4. Placement and Design
- Advertisements will be placed in designated sections of the journal, either within the print or online issues, as agreed upon with the advertiser.
- The design and layout of each advertisement must be approved by the editorial team to ensure consistency with the journal’s aesthetics.
5. Rate Schedule
- JAM will publish a rate schedule outlining pricing for different advertisement types and placements. This schedule will be reviewed annually and adjusted as necessary.
- Advertisers will be informed of any applicable discounts or packages.
6. Duration of Advertisements
- Advertisements will run for a specified duration as agreed upon in the advertising agreement (e.g., per issue, for a specific number of issues, or for a particular promotional period).
7. Payment Terms
- Advertisers must provide payment in full prior to the publication of the advertisement unless otherwise agreed upon.
- Accepted payment methods will include credit card, bank transfer, and checks.
8. Disclaimer
- JAM does not endorse any products, services, or organizations featured in advertisements.
- The journal is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers or for any consequences resulting from the use of advertised products or services.
9. Changes to the Advertising Policy
- The advertising policy will be reviewed periodically and may be updated as needed. Advertisers will be notified of any significant changes.
Contact Information
For inquiries regarding this policy or to report suspected issues related to published articles, please contact the editorial office atasian.midwives@gmail.com or visit our website at https://ecommons.aku.edu/jam/
PEER REVIEW POLICY
1. Purpose of Peer Review
The purpose of the peer review process at the Journal of Asian Midwives is to ensure the quality, validity, and relevance of the research published in the journal. Through rigorous evaluation by experts in the field, we aim to maintain high academic standards and provide constructive feedback to authors.
2. Peer Review Process
Submission and Initial Screening:
- Manuscript will undergo an initial screening by the editorial team to ensure they meet the journal’s scope and guidelines.
- Only submissions that meet these criteria will proceed to the peer review stage.
- All correspondence, including notification of the Editor’s decision and requests for revisions, will be by e-mail. For this reason, it is essential that we have full contact details including an e-mail address of the corresponding author.
Review Selection
- The editorial team will select at least two independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant subject area. Reviewers should not have any conflicts of interest regarding the submitted manuscript.
Review Criteria
- Reviewers are expected to evaluate the manuscript based on originality, significance, methodology, clarity, and contribution to the field. Reviewer will fill a structured checklist based on following criteria:
- -- Relevance of the topic to the field of midwifery
- -- Rigor of the methodology
- -- Depth of analysis and discussion
- -- Ethical considerations
- -- Writing quality and structure
3. Review Pocess
Reviewers will have up to 2-4 weeks to complete their evaluations. They may choose to recommend acceptance, revision, or rejection of the manuscript. Reviewers will provide constructive feedback to assist the authors in improving their work.
4. Final Decision
The editorial team will consider reviewer feedback to make a final decision on the manuscript. The decision will be communicated to the authors along with the reviewers’ comments.
5. Revisions
If minor or major revisions are required, authors will be given a specified timeline to submit a revised manuscript. The revised manuscript may be sent back to the original reviewers for further evaluation.
6. Confidentiality
The peer review process is confidential. Reviewers are expected to keep all details regarding the manuscript and the review process private. Authors should not contact reviewers directly.
7. Ethics and Integrity
All participants in the peer review process, including authors, reviewers, and editors, must adhere to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. Any allegations of misconduct will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.
8. Double Blind Peer Review
The journal uses a double-blind system for peer-review; both reviewers’ and authors’ identities remain anonymous. The submissions will be peer-reviewed by three experts; two content experts and one copy reader for additional editorial purpose for the journal.
9. Appeals
Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a formal request along with supporting arguments to the editorial office. Appeals will be reviewed by an independent editor not involved in the original decision.
10. Amendments to Policy:
This peer review policy will be reviewed periodically and may be amended as necessary to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of the review process.
RESEARCH ETHICS POLICY
1. Introduction
The Journal of Asian Midwives is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in the publication of research related to midwifery and maternal health. This policy outlines the ethical principles that authors, reviewers, and editors must adhere to in order to maintain the integrity of the research published in our journal.
2. Ethical Principles
- Research submitted to this journal must align with the following ethical principles:
- Respect for Persons: Participants in research must be treated as autonomous agents capable of making informed decisions. Researchers must obtain informed consent from all participants involved in their studies.
- Beneficence: Researchers should strive to maximize benefits and minimize any potential risks to participants. Research should prioritize the well-being of subjects.
- Justice: The benefits and burdens of research should be distributed fairly. Special care should be taken to ensure that vulnerable populations are not exploited in research.
3. Informed Consent
- All research involving human subjects must include a clear statement of informed consent. This should detail the study's purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits, and participants' rights to withdraw at any time without penalty.
4. Confidentiality and Privacy
- Researchers must respect the confidentiality and privacy of participants. Personal data should be anonymized or pseudonymized wherever possible, and data protection regulations applicable to the research's jurisdiction must be followed.
5. Research Misconduct
- The Journal of Asian Midwives takes research misconduct seriously, which includes but is not limited to:
- -- Fabrication and falsification of data
- -- Plagiarism
- -- Inappropriate authorship credit
- -- Duplicate publication
- Any suspected cases of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken, including the possibility of retraction of the publication.
- The Journal of Asian Midwives takes research misconduct seriously, which includes but is not limited to:
6. Ethical Approval
- Researchers must obtain approval from an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board before conducting research involving human participants. A statement confirming ethical approval must be included in the submitted manuscript.
7. Conflicts of Interest
- Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could potentially influence their work. Reviewers and editors must also disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their impartiality.
8. Responsibilities of Reviewers and Editors
- Reviewers and editors are expected to conduct their evaluations objectively, fairly, and without bias. They should maintain confidentiality about the submitted manuscripts and should not use knowledge gained through the review process for personal advantage.
9. Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Standards
- All research must comply with applicable laws and regulations governing research, including those related to human subjects, data protection, and intellectual property.
10. Amendments to the Policy
- This policy may be amended as necessary to reflect evolving ethical standards and practices in research. Authors and stakeholders will be notified of significant changes.
Conclusion
By adhering to these ethical guidelines, the Journal of Asian Midwives seeks to ensure the integrity and credibility of the research published and to promote the advancement of midwifery and maternal health in Asia.
INFORMED CONSENT POLICY
The Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in research and publication. This Informed Consent Policy outlines the requirements and procedures for obtaining informed consent from participants involved in research studies submitted for publication in JAM.
1. Purpose of the Policy
This policy ensures that all research involving human participants adheres to ethical principles, including respect for persons, beneficence, and justice, in accordance with international ethical guidelines and regulations.
2. Definition of Informed Consent
This policy may be amended as necessary to reflect evolving ethical standards and practices in research. Authors and stakeholders will be notified of significant changes.
3. Requirements for Informed Consent
Researchers must obtain informed consent from all participants involved in studies submitted to JAM. The following elements are required in the informed consent process:
- Information Disclosure: Participants must be provided with clear and comprehensive information regarding:
- -- The purpose of the research.
- -- Procedures involved in the study.
- -- Nature and duration of participation.
- -- Potential risks and benefits.
- -- Alternatives to participation.
- -- Confidentiality and data protection measures.
- -- Contact information for questions or concerns..
- Comprehension: Researchers must ensure that participants understand the information provided, using language appropriate to the study population.
- Voluntariness:Participation must be voluntary, free from coercion or undue influence. Participants should be informed that they can withdraw from the study at any time without penalty or loss of benefits.
4. Documentation of Consent
Informed consent must be documented in writing through a consent form. This form should include all elements of informed consent and a space for participants to sign, indicating their agreement to participate. In cases where it is impractical to obtain written consent (e.g., certain qualitative studies), researchers must document the oral consent process and maintain a record of participants' agreement.
5. Special Considerations
Vulnerable Populations: If the research involves vulnerable populations (e.g., minors, individuals with cognitive impairments), additional safeguards must be implemented, including obtaining consent from legal guardians or representatives where applicable.
Anonymity and Confidentiality:Researchers must explicitly communicate how participants' data will be anonymized and safeguarded to protect their privacy.
6. Ethical Review
Before submitting research to JAM, researchers must ensure that their studies have been approved by an appropriate ethics review board or institutional review board (IRB). The authors may be asked to share the ethics approval document at any time of peer review or after acceptance.
7. Policy Compliance
Authors submitting manuscripts to JAM are responsible for demonstrating compliance with this Informed Consent Policy in their research studies. Non-compliance may result in manuscript rejection or retraction if published.
8. Review of Informed Consent Policy
This Informed Consent Policy will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect changes in ethical standards, regulations, and best practices in research ethics.
9. Contact Information
For inquiries about the Informed Consent Policy or research ethics, please contact the editorial office at Asian.midwives@gmail.com or visit our website at https://ecommons.aku.edu/jam/.
POLICY FOR HANDLING CORRECTIONS, RETRACTIONS, AND EDITORIAL EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN
The Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM) is committed to maintaining the integrity of the academic record and the trust of its authors, readers, and the broader academic community. This policy outlines the procedures for addressing cases requiring corrections, retractions, and editorial expressions of concern to ensure transparency and accountability in publishing.
1. Definitions
- Correction: A correction is issued to address errors or inaccuracies in a published article that does not affect the overall conclusions or scientific validity of the work.
- Retraction: A retraction occurs when an article is withdrawn from the journal due to serious ethical issues, significant errors, or copyright violations that invalidate the study’s findings.
- Editorial: Expression of Concern: An editorial expression of concern may be issued when there are significant discrepancies or concerns regarding a published article that require further investigation but do not warrant a retraction at the time.
2. Process for Handling Corrections
- Identification of Errors:Corrections can be initiated by authors, reviewers, or editorial staff upon identifying an error in a published article.
- Submission of Correction Request:The author must submit a correction request in writing to the editorial office, detailing the error and the recommended correction.
- Evaluation of Request:The editorial board will review the request and determine the necessity of the correction. If deemed necessary, the correction will be published in the next issue of the journal, clearly indicating the nature of the error and the correction made.
3. Process for Handling Retractions
- Criteria for Retraction:Retractions will be considered in cases of:
- -- Serious ethical issues (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, or conflict of interest).
- -- Significant errors that undermine the validity of the paper.
- -- Failure to comply with ethical standards.
- Initiation of Retraction: Retractions can be initiated by the editorial board, authors, or other parties. Authors wishing to retract their work must provide a written request explaining the reason for retraction.
- Evaluation and Decision-Making: The editorial board will investigate the circumstances surrounding the request. If a decision to retract is made, a retraction notice will be published in the journal and linked to the original article, clearly stating the reasons for retraction.
- Notification:Relevant stakeholders, including authors, institutions, and funding bodies, will be notified of the retraction.
4. Process for Editorial Expressions of Concern
- Identification of Concerns: Concerns may arise from peer-review feedback, readership inquiries, or allegations of misconduct.
- Evaluation of Concerns: The editorial board will assess the concerns raised. If determined significant enough to warrant an expression of concern, the board will draft a statement outlining the issues.
- Publication of Expression of Concern: The statement will be published in the journal, clearly linked to the original paper and indicating that an investigation is ongoing or that further information will be provided as it becomes available.
5. Responsibilities of Authors
- Authors are responsible for ensuring the integrity of their published work. They must promptly notify the editorial office of any errors or ethical concerns related to their published articles.
- Authors should cooperate fully with the editorial board during any investigations regarding their work.
6. Record Keeping and Transparency
- All communications regarding corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be documented and retained by the editorial office to ensure accountability.
- Notifications of retractions and corrections will be communicated transparently to readers and indexed appropriately.
7. Review of Policy
- This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated in accordance with best practices in publishing ethics and guidelines from organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
8. Contact Information
- For inquiries regarding this policy or to report suspected issues related to published articles, please contact the editorial office at asian.midwives@gmail.com or visit our website at [ecommons.aku.edu/jam].
EDITORIAL POLICY
1. Manuscript Preparation and Submission
- Authors must prepare manuscripts per JAM's formatting and citation guidelines, covering areas such as article structure, referencing style, and data presentation.
- Submission entails confirming originality, clear authorship, and disclosure of conflicts of interest.
- Authors using AI in manuscript preparation should clearly acknowledge its use, provide appropriate references, and include the prompts given to the AI.
- The editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any manuscript.
2. Editorial Review Process
- JAM's editorial team performs an initial assessment for alignment with its focus, originality, and adherence to guidelines.
- Selected articles undergo a double-blind peer review to ensure objective evaluation and adherence to the journal's ethical standards.
3. Ethics and Integrity Checks
- JAM follows COPE and ICMJE standards for publication ethics. Manuscripts are screened for plagiarism, appropriate source acknowledgement, and ethical research practices.
- Authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of data, with provisions to share data upon request, respecting confidentiality and ethical guidelines.
4. Peer Review and Reviewer Responsibilities
- Reviewers contribute to editorial decisions and guide authors on improvement through fair, objective, and timely reviews.
- Confidentiality is critical; reviewers cannot disclose or use any unpublished manuscript information.
- Reviewers may use AI tools for language editing of their review comments. However, uploading the manuscripts to any AI platform is not recommended to prevent any security issues.
5. Editorial Decision and Author Communication
- Decisions on acceptance, rejection, or revision are made based on reviewers’ feedback, originality, and relevance.
- Editors ensure unbiased handling, with decisions communicated clearly to authors along with suggestions or justifications.
6. Publication, Copyright, and Post-publication Ethics
- Accepted manuscripts are published under a Creative Commons license. Authors retain rights but must credit JAM upon reuse.
- JAM maintains a zero-tolerance plagiarism policy. Post-publication, errors can be corrected or retracted if substantial issues arise.
For further details, visit the Journal of Asian Midwives’ guidelines and publication ethics pages https://ecommons.aku.edu/jam/