Editorial Mission & Code of Conduct

In the pursuit of publishing high-caliber research within the Journal of Women and Child Health (JoWaCH), our editorial board and peer reviewers collaborate diligently. The collective efforts of our expert editors and reviewers are dedicated to elevating manuscripts to meet rigorous publication standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOURNAL TEAM OFFICIALS

The editorial board of JoWaCH upholds the confidentiality and scientific accuracy of manuscripts throughout the publication process. Our esteemed editorial team, comprising professionals from both national and international domains, plays a crucial role in maintaining the journal's commitment to excellence. This guide delineates the roles and responsibilities of editorial board members, providing valuable insights for editors, handling editors, and those seeking an understanding of the day-to-day editorial tasks.

Editor in Chief 
- Sets the overall vision and direction for the journal.
- Develop and implement editorial policies and procedures.
- Oversees the selection of reviewers.
- Makes final decisions on manuscript acceptance or rejection.
- Represents the journal to the academic community and the public.

Executive Editor
- Oversees the editorial direction of the journal, ensuring alignment with its goals and standards.
- Manages high-level editorial decisions, such as acceptance of controversial or groundbreaking submissions.
- Represents the journal in external collaborations, conferences, and partnerships.
- Provides strategic leadership and management for the journal.
- Develop and implement long-term plans for the journal.
- Oversees the work of the Managing Editor and Section Editors.
- Represents the journal to external stakeholders.

Managing Editor
- Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the journal.
- Manages the submission, review, and publication process.
- Communicates with authors, reviewers, and editors.
- Oversees the work of the Technical Editors.
- Maintains the journal's website and other online platforms.
- Provides regular updates on journal metrics and performance to the editorial leadership team.

Section Editors
- Oversee the review and publication of manuscripts within their assigned sections of the journal.
- Select reviewers for manuscripts submitted to their section.
- Provide feedback to authors on their manuscripts.
- Make recommendations to the Managing Editor on manuscript acceptance or rejection.

Technical Editors
- Ensure that manuscripts are grammatically correct.
- Format manuscripts according to journal style.
- Check manuscripts for technical errors.

National and International Editorial Advisory Team
- Provides expert advice and guidance to the Editorial team.
- Reviews the journal's content and editorial policies.
- Advises on emerging trends in the field.
- Represents the journal to the academic community and the public.

 

Editorial Code of Conduct

All the editors of The Journal of Women and Child Health (JoWaCH) adhere to a strict Editorial Code of Conduct. This code ensures that the journal maintains the highest standards of editorial practice.

  • Ethical Conduct: All editors adhere to the Editors' Code of Conduct, ensuring the highest standards of editorial practice.
  • Continuous Improvement: Editors actively seek feedback from authors, readers, reviewers, and board members to refine the journal's processes.
  • Resource Allocation: The journal provides editors with adequate resources, expert guidance, and proper training for professional conduct and quality enhancement.
  • Research Integrity: Editors support initiatives that reduce academic misconduct and educate researchers on publication ethics.
  • Policy Assessment: Editors evaluate journal policies' impact on authors and reviewers, revising them to improve efficiency, accuracy, completeness, and clarity in research reporting.
  • Misconduct Management: Editors guide the team (when necessary) in handling suspected misconduct cases.
  • Reviewer Guidance: Editors provide clear and regularly updated instructions for reviewers.
  • Reviewer Disclosure: Editors require reviewers to disclose potential conflicts of interest before agreeing to a review.
  • Ethical Considerations in Reviews: Editors encourage reviewers to comment on ethical issues and potential misconduct raised by submissions (e.g., unethical design, insufficient consent details, subject protection concerns).
  • Originality and Plagiarism Detection: Editors encourage reviewers to verify submission originality and be vigilant against plagiarism.
  • Reviewer Identification: A wide range of sources (beyond personal contacts) are used to identify potential reviewers (e.g., author suggestions, bibliographic databases).
  • Reviewer Conduct: COPE/ICMJE guidelines are followed in cases of suspected reviewer misconduct.
  • Editorial Board Responsibilities:
    • Journal Promotion: Board members act as ambassadors, seeking out high-quality authors and submissions.
    • Peer Review: Board members actively participate in the peer-review process.
    • Editorial Contributions: Board members may write editorials, reviews, or commentaries in their areas of expertise.
    • Meetings and Engagement: Board members attend and contribute to editorial board meetings.
    • Communication and Feedback: Editors consult board members regularly (at least annually) to gauge opinions, inform them of policy changes, and identify future challenges.
  • Staying Current: Editors remain updated on the latest guidelines, recommendations, and evidence regarding peer review and journal management.
  • Data Protection: Editors uphold policies on publishing individual data (e.g., identifiable patient details or images).
  • Compliance with Deadlines: Editors and authors must follow the journal's deadlines and announcements.

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