Publication Ethics Policy

Archives of Community Medicine and Public Health (ACMPH) is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. The journal follows ethical guidelines established by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors), and WAME (World Association of Medical Editors).

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to ACMPH must adhere to the following ethical principles:

  • Originality: Manuscripts must be original and unpublished. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
  • Avoiding Plagiarism: All submissions are screened using iThenticate to ensure originality.
  • Data Accuracy: Authors must ensure that all research data is accurate, complete, and properly documented.
  • Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest.
  • Authorship Criteria: All listed authors must have made a significant contribution to the research.
  • Ethical Research Practices: Studies involving human or animal subjects must comply with ethical research guidelines and obtain ethical clearance.

Editorial Responsibilities

The Editorial Board of ACMPH ensures:

  • Fair and Unbiased Decisions: Manuscripts are evaluated based on academic merit, without discrimination.
  • Confidentiality: The editorial team must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts to anyone outside the review process.
  • Ethical Oversight: Any suspected ethical misconduct is investigated and addressed according to COPE guidelines.
  • Editorial Independence: Decisions are made without commercial or political influence.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Peer reviewers must:

  • Provide Constructive Feedback: Reviews should be fair, objective, and aimed at improving the manuscript.
  • Maintain Confidentiality: Manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents.
  • Identify Ethical Concerns: Any signs of plagiarism, data manipulation, or unethical research should be reported.
  • Disclose Conflicts of Interest: If a reviewer has competing interests, they should decline the review.

Handling of Research Misconduct

ACMPH takes research misconduct seriously and follows a structured approach to handle any unethical behavior, including:

  • Investigation: If allegations of plagiarism, falsification, or fabrication arise, the editorial team will conduct an internal review.
  • Communication: The concerned authors or reviewers will be contacted for clarifications.
  • Corrective Action: Actions may include manuscript rejection, correction, retraction, or institutional notification.

Retraction and Corrections Policy

In cases of proven ethical violations, ACMPH reserves the right to:

  • Issue Corrections: If errors do not invalidate the research findings.
  • Retract Articles: If the integrity of the research is compromised.
  • Blacklist Authors: Authors guilty of severe ethical breaches may be prohibited from submitting future manuscripts.

Adherence to Ethical Guidelines

ACMPH aligns with internationally recognized ethical publishing standards and follows frameworks set by:

Committed to Ethical Research and Publication Integrity!