Data Availability

JoWaCH Data Availability Policy: Ensuring Transparency and Reproducibility

Following the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, the Journal of Women and Child Health (JoWaCH) implements the following data availability policy to promote transparency and research integrity.

1. Data Sharing Requirements

• Authors submitting manuscripts to JoWaCH must be prepared to share all data underlying their research that is essential for reproducing the reported results.
• This data should be made available to JoWaCH editors upon request in a timely manner, typically within 3 months of the editorial request.
• Data should be provided in a well-documented and readable format, using commonly used software or file types (e.g., .csv, .xls, .sav).

2. Data Availability Statement

• Authors are required to include a clear and concise data availability statement in their manuscript. This statement should be placed after the Methodology section and should address the following:
  • Whether the data is publicly available or available upon request from the corresponding author.
  • If publicly available, the statement should include the specific online repository where the data is deposited (e.g., [repository name], [DOI or accession number]).
  • If data is not publicly available, the statement should explain the reasons for restricted access (e.g., ethical considerations, patient privacy) and the process for requesting access from the corresponding author.

3. Online Repository Sharing (Preferred)

• For large datasets, JoWaCH strongly encourages authors to deposit their data in reputable online repositories with long-term archiving policies.
• Public repositories promote data discoverability, reusability, and transparency in research practices.
• Examples of suitable repositories include figshare.

4. Alternative Data Sharing Methods

• If online repository sharing is not feasible due to technical limitations, ethical considerations, or other justifiable reasons, authors are responsible for providing the data to the editors within the designated timeframe through alternative means.
• This may involve sending the data directly to the editors upon request in a secure and accessible format (e.g., a compressed file transfer service).

5. Exceptions

• In rare cases, where sharing certain data would violate ethical considerations or participant privacy, authors may request an exemption from the data-sharing policy.
• Such requests must be clearly justified in the data availability statement and may require additional information or documentation to be submitted to the editors for review.

6. Benefits of Data Sharing

• Sharing data allows for independent verification and validation of research findings, strengthening the overall credibility of the scientific literature.
• It enables other researchers to build upon existing work and potentially generate new knowledge.
• Data sharing fosters collaboration and innovation within the scientific community.

7. Sanctions for Non-Compliance

• Failure to comply with the data availability policy may lead to delays in the publication process or, in severe cases, rejection of the manuscript.

By adhering to this data availability policy, JoWaCH strives to promote transparency, accountability, and reproducibility in published research, ultimately contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field of women and child health.