Publication Ethics

PUBLICATION ETHICS AND MALPRACTICE STATEMENT

Journal for Quality in Women Health (JQWH) is a peer-reviewed international electronic journal. This statement clarifies the ethical behavior expected of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, the editor-in-chief, the editorial board, reviewers, and the publisher — Universitas Strada Indonesia. This statement is based on the COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

The publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal is a fundamental building block in the development of a coherent and respected body of knowledge. It reflects the quality of the authors' work and the institutions that support them. Peer-reviewed articles embody the scientific method and contribute to academic integrity. Therefore, it is essential to agree upon standards of ethical behavior for all parties involved: authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and readers.

As the publisher of JQWH, Universitas Strada Indonesia takes its duties of guardianship over all stages of publishing very seriously and recognizes its ethical and other responsibilities. The publisher is committed to ensuring that advertising, reprint, or other commercial revenue has no impact or influence on editorial decisions. The Department of Midwifery Program and the Editorial Board will assist in communication with other journals and publishers when necessary.

  1. Publication Decisions

The editor of JQWH is responsible for deciding which submitted manuscripts will be published. The decision is guided by the manuscript’s validity, its significance to researchers and readers, and compliance with legal requirements regarding libel, copyright, and plagiarism. Editors may consult with other editors or reviewers in making such decisions.

  1. Fair Play

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on their intellectual merit without regard to the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.

  1. Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, and the publisher, as appropriate.

  1. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor’s own research without the express written consent of the author.

Duties of Reviewers

  1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions
    Peer review assists editors in making editorial decisions and helps authors improve their manuscripts through feedback.
  2. Promptness
    Any selected reviewer who feels unqualified or unable to review a manuscript promptly should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.
  3. Confidentiality
    Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and must not be shown or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.
  4. Objectivity
    Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback and without personal criticism.
  5. Acknowledgement of Sources
    Reviewers should identify relevant published work not cited by the authors and notify the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap with other published papers.
  6. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
    Privileged information obtained through peer review must remain confidential and not be used for personal gain. Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.

 

Duties of Authors

  1. Reporting Standards
    Authors must present accurate and objective accounts of their research. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unethical and unacceptable.
  2. Data Access and Retention
    Authors should be prepared to provide raw data for editorial review and, where feasible, to make such data publicly available in accordance with the ALPSP–STM Statement on Data and Databases.
  3. Originality and Plagiarism
    Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original. If others’ work or words are used, proper citation and acknowledgment must be given.
  4. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
    Authors should not submit or publish the same manuscript in more than one journal concurrently.
  5. Acknowledgement of Sources
    Proper acknowledgment of others’ work must always be given, and relevant publications must be cited.
  6. Authorship of the Paper
    Authorship should be limited to those who made significant contributions to the research. All co-authors must approve the final version and agree to its submission.
  7. Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
    If the research involves hazardous materials, human participants, or animals, authors must clearly identify any potential risks.
  8. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
    Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their work. All sources of funding should be acknowledged.
  9. Fundamental Errors in Published Works
    When an author discovers a significant error in their published work, they must promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate to retract or correct the paper.