Author Guidelines
The Journal of Sexual Health and AIDS Research (ISSN: 3065-5102) invites submissions from researchers, clinicians, public health professionals, educators, and advocates engaged in sexual and reproductive health. Our goal is to provide a clear, structured process for manuscript preparation and submission, ensuring a seamless experience for authors and a rigorous peer review process for the benefit of our readers. All submissions must align with the journal's scope and uphold the highest standards of scientific integrity, ethical conduct, and relevance.
1. Types of Manuscripts Accepted
We accept the following categories of scholarly work:
- Original Research Articles: Detailed accounts of empirical studies based on quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods.
- Review Articles: Comprehensive overviews and critical assessments of current literature. Systematic and narrative reviews are welcome.
- Case Reports: Descriptions of rare or educational cases that provide valuable clinical insights.
- Public Health Program Evaluations: Reports on community interventions, education campaigns, and health policy initiatives.
- Brief Communications: Short papers offering preliminary data or concise updates on ongoing research.
- Commentaries and Opinion Pieces: Expert perspectives on emerging issues, policy developments, or research priorities.
- Policy and Ethics Analyses: Discussions addressing legal frameworks, healthcare access, research ethics, and patient rights in sexual health.
2. Manuscript Preparation Guidelines
Authors are advised to follow the structure and formatting instructions below to facilitate peer review and editorial handling.
- Title Page: Should include the title of the manuscript, full names and affiliations of all authors, and contact details for the corresponding author.
- Abstract: A structured abstract (250–300 words) summarizing the background, objectives, methods, key results, and conclusions.
- Keywords: Provide 4 to 6 relevant keywords to enhance indexing and discoverability.
- Main Text: Typically structured as Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Alternative structures may be used for non-research articles.
- Tables and Figures: Should be numbered consecutively, with descriptive titles and legends. Submit high-resolution images in standard formats (JPEG, PNG, or TIFF).
- References: Use APA reference style. List references numerically in the order of citation in the text.
- Acknowledgments and Funding: Disclose sources of financial or logistical support, and acknowledge contributions from non-authors.
- Conflicts of Interest: Authors must declare any actual or potential conflicts of interest.
3. Ethical Considerations
Research involving human participants must comply with international ethical standards. Authors should provide:
- A statement of ethical approval from a recognized institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee.
- Confirmation that informed consent was obtained from all participants, or a justification if a waiver was granted.
- An explanation of steps taken to ensure confidentiality and minimize harm, particularly when working with vulnerable populations.
For case reports, authors must confirm that written informed consent for publication has been obtained from the patient or a legally authorized representative.
4. Submission Process
All manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the journal’s submission portal. Authors should ensure that the following are included:
- A clean manuscript file (Word format preferred) without identifying author information for blind peer review.
- A separate title page with complete author information.
- Cover letter briefly explaining the significance of the work and confirming that it is not under review elsewhere.
- Any supplementary material, such as questionnaires or raw datasets, if applicable.
5. Peer Review and Editorial Decision
Submissions are subject to double-blind peer review by independent experts. The review process typically involves:
- Initial screening by the editorial office for scope, formatting, and completeness.
- Assignment to peer reviewers with expertise in the relevant field.
- Editorial decision based on reviewer recommendations, followed by feedback and revision if necessary.
Authors will be notified of the outcome within 4 to 6 weeks. Revised manuscripts should be resubmitted promptly with a detailed response to reviewer comments.
6. Authorship Criteria
All listed authors must have made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the work. The corresponding author must ensure that:
- All co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
- No individual who contributed significantly has been excluded from authorship.
- Any disputes about authorship have been resolved prior to submission.
7. Plagiarism and Originality
Manuscripts must be original and not published or under consideration elsewhere. All submissions are screened for plagiarism using reliable detection software. Any overlap with previously published work must be clearly cited and justified.
8. Data Availability and Transparency
Authors are encouraged to provide access to datasets, code, or supplementary materials that support their findings. A data availability statement should be included, indicating whether the data is accessible to others and under what conditions.
9. Open Access and Copyright
The Journal of Sexual Health and AIDS Research operates under an open-access model. All accepted articles are freely available to the public, ensuring broad dissemination and impact. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal a license to publish the work under a Creative Commons Attribution License.
10. Contact Information
For further inquiries about the submission process or to discuss your manuscript’s suitability, authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office via the journal’s website or email.
