Asian Journal of Public Health and Nursing (AJPHN) applies a rigorous peer review process to ensure the quality, integrity, and relevance of all published content.

Type of Review

AJPHN uses a double-blind peer review system, where:

• The identities of authors are concealed from reviewers.

• The identities of reviewers are concealed from authors.

This approach minimizes bias and promotes objective evaluation.

Review Process

1. Initial Screening Submitted manuscripts are reviewed by the editorial team for scope, formatting, and ethical compliance.

2. Reviewer Assignment Suitable manuscripts are assigned to at least two independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant field.

3. Evaluation Criteria Reviewers assess:

   • Originality and significance of the research

   • Methodological rigor

   • Clarity of presentation

   • Ethical standards and citation practices

4. Decision Making Based on reviewer feedback, the editorial team may decide to:

   • Accept the manuscript

   • Request revisions (minor or major)

   • Reject the manuscript

5. Timeline The average review period is 4–6 weeks but may vary depending on reviewer availability and manuscript complexity.

Reviewer Ethics

AJPHN adheres to the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers. Reviewers are expected to:

• Maintain confidentiality

• Declare conflicts of interest

• Provide constructive and unbiased feedback

Exceptions

Editorials, letters, and invited commentaries may undergo editorial review only, and this will be clearly stated in the published article.

Policies on Conflict of Interest, Human and Animal Rights, and Informed Consent

Conflict of Interest AJPHN requires authors, reviewers, and editors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the objectivity of their contributions. All disclosures must be stated during the submission process. When no conflicts exist, authors should explicitly declare: "The authors declare no conflicts of interest." Reviewers and editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist. AJPHN adheres to the COPE guidelines on conflict of interest management.

Human Rights and Ethical Approval All research involving human participants must comply with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Authors are required to include statements confirming ethical approval by an appropriate institutional review board (IRB) and compliance with ethical standards. The name of the approving ethics committee and the reference number must be stated within the manuscript. For qualitative research, informed consent and ethical rigor should be clearly addressed.

Animal Rights Studies involving animals must follow internationally accepted standards, such as those published by the National Research Council or local regulatory authorities. Authors must describe procedures used to minimize pain or distress and provide evidence of approval from an institutional animal care committee.

Informed Consent Authors must ensure that all participants in clinical or psychological research have provided informed consent. For case reports or images involving individuals, explicit written consent must be obtained and documented. If consent was waived or deemed unnecessary, authors must justify this within the manuscript.