Confidentiality and Ethics

Archives of Community Medicine and Public Health (ACMPH) upholds the highest standards of confidentiality and ethical integrity in scholarly publishing. Maintaining confidentiality and adhering to ethical principles are fundamental to ensuring academic integrity, transparency, and trust in the research community.

Confidentiality in the Editorial Process

All stakeholders in the publishing process—editors, reviewers, and editorial staff—must adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines:

  • Manuscript Confidentiality: Submitted manuscripts and their details must not be shared with unauthorized individuals.
  • Reviewer Anonymity: In the double-blind peer review process, the identities of both authors and reviewers remain undisclosed.
  • Editorial Discretion: Editors and reviewers must not disclose manuscript content or reviewer reports to third parties.
  • Data Protection: Any research data shared as part of the manuscript must be handled with strict confidentiality.
  • Post-Publication Confidentiality: Unpublished manuscripts, rejected submissions, and confidential editorial discussions must never be disclosed.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring ethical publishing practices and upholding the integrity of the journal. Editorial ethical responsibilities include:

  • Impartial Decision-Making: Editors must evaluate manuscripts based on their academic merit, free from bias or external influence.
  • Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.
  • Fair Peer Review Management: Editors must ensure a transparent and unbiased peer review process.
  • Ethical Issue Handling: Editors must address any ethical concerns, including plagiarism, duplicate publication, or misconduct.
  • Retraction and Corrections: Editors must follow COPE guidelines for handling corrections and retractions.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and ethics of the journal. Reviewers must:

  • Maintain Confidentiality: Do not share or discuss manuscript details outside the review process.
  • Provide Unbiased Reviews: Assess manuscripts based on scientific merit, without discrimination.
  • Disclose Conflicts of Interest: Inform the editorial team of any personal, financial, or institutional conflicts.
  • Respect Intellectual Property: Do not use unpublished research findings for personal benefit.
  • Report Ethical Concerns: Identify potential research misconduct, plagiarism, or unethical study practices.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to adhere to ethical research and publication practices:

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their manuscript is original and free from plagiarism.
  • Data Integrity: Authors must present accurate and verifiable research data, avoiding fabrication or falsification.
  • Authorship Transparency: All listed authors must have contributed significantly to the research.
  • Ethical Research Compliance: Studies involving human or animal subjects must follow ethical approval guidelines.
  • Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Any financial or personal conflicts must be disclosed.

Handling of Research Misconduct

ACMPH follows strict protocols for addressing research misconduct:

  • Plagiarism Detection: All manuscripts are screened using iThenticate for plagiarism.
  • Fabrication and Falsification: Any evidence of data manipulation results in manuscript rejection.
  • Authorship Disputes: Disputes regarding authorship contributions must be resolved with proper documentation.
  • Ethical Violations: Cases of research misconduct are reported to relevant institutions and ethical bodies.
  • Retraction Policy: If serious ethical violations are identified post-publication, the article may be retracted.

Compliance with International Ethical Guidelines

ACMPH aligns with ethical publishing standards set by:

Upholding Academic Integrity and Ethical Publishing!