Ethical Standards for Authors

Archives of Community Medicine and Public Health (ACMPH) is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. Authors submitting manuscripts must adhere to the following ethical guidelines to ensure research integrity, transparency, and responsible scientific communication.

1. Originality and Plagiarism

  • Authors must submit only original work that has not been published elsewhere.
  • Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited. Manuscripts are screened using iThenticate.
  • Authors should appropriately cite and reference all sources.
  • Self-plagiarism (reusing previously published work without proper citation) is not allowed.

2. Authorship and Contributions

  • All listed authors must have made significant contributions to the research.
  • Individuals who made minor contributions (e.g., proofreading or funding support) should be acknowledged but not listed as authors.
  • The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors approve the final version before submission.
  • Any changes to authorship (addition or removal of an author) after submission must be approved by all authors.

3. Data Integrity and Research Ethics

  • Fabrication, falsification, or selective omission of data is considered scientific misconduct.
  • Data should be reported accurately, transparently, and in sufficient detail to allow reproducibility.
  • Authors should provide access to raw data upon request by the editorial team or reviewers.
  • If errors are discovered after publication, authors must notify the journal immediately for correction or retraction.

4. Ethical Research Conduct

  • Studies involving human participants must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki.
  • For research involving animals, authors must follow ethical guidelines such as those outlined by the ARRIVE Guidelines.
  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval must be obtained for studies involving human subjects.
  • Informed consent must be secured from participants before conducting research.

5. Conflict of Interest Disclosure

  • Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the research.
  • Funding sources and their role in the study must be clearly stated.
  • If no conflicts exist, authors should include a statement: "The authors declare no conflicts of interest."

6. Redundant or Duplicate Publication

  • Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously is unethical.
  • Any previously published work that is reused in the manuscript must be properly cited.
  • Authors must inform the journal if the manuscript is a follow-up or extension of prior research.

7. Retractions and Corrections

  • If serious ethical violations are discovered post-publication, ACMPH reserves the right to retract the article.
  • Authors must cooperate with the journal in issuing corrections for minor errors or clarifications.
  • Retractions and corrections will be handled following COPE guidelines.

8. Reporting Ethical Concerns

  • If an author becomes aware of research misconduct or ethical breaches in published work, they should report it to the editorial office.
  • The editorial board will investigate allegations in accordance with ethical publishing standards.

Committed to Upholding Research Integrity and Ethical Publishing!