Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

The International Journal of Adolescent and Pediatric Health (IJAPH) upholds the highest standards of ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. This statement outlines the journal's commitment to ethical publication and procedures for addressing malpractice, in accordance with guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting to IJAPH must:

Ensure that the submitted manuscript is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under simultaneous review in another journal.
Accurately present data and findings, without fabrication, falsification, or manipulation.
Clearly cite all sources of information and previous work; proper attribution must be given for others’ ideas and results.
List only those individuals as authors who have substantially contributed to the research and writing process.
Disclose all financial or non-financial conflicts of interest.
Provide documentation of ethical approval (IRB or equivalent) for studies involving human subjects or animals.
Obtain and provide evidence of informed consent for case reports or identifiable participant data.
Cooperate with the editorial team in case corrections or retractions are needed.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are expected to:

Make decisions on manuscripts based solely on scholarly merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope.
Maintain editorial independence, free from commercial or political influence.
Ensure a fair, double-blind peer review process and treat all manuscripts confidentially.
Take prompt action in cases of suspected misconduct, including plagiarism, unethical research, or authorship disputes.
Follow COPE flowcharts in handling corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must:

Evaluate manuscripts fairly and objectively, based on content, without regard to authors’ gender, race, ethnicity, affiliation, or nationality.
Maintain confidentiality of reviewed materials.
Report any ethical concerns, including plagiarism, redundant publication, or undeclared conflicts.
Refrain from using the content of the manuscript for personal or academic advantage.
Declare any conflicts of interest and decline review if necessary.

4. Publication Malpractice

The following constitute publication malpractice and are subject to investigation:

Plagiarism (including AI-generated content without human oversight)
Data falsification or fabrication
Redundant or duplicate publication
Ghostwriting or guest authorship
Undeclared conflicts of interest
Unethical research practices, such as lack of ethics approval or informed consent

All allegations will be handled according to COPE's Misconduct Guidelines, and sanctions may include:

Rejection of the manuscript
Retraction of published article
Notification of the authors’ institution
Banning the authors from future submission

5. Plagiarism and AI Detection

All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software (i.e., iThenticate or Turnitin).
IJAPH does not accept manuscripts written entirely by AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) without human authorship oversight. Authors must declare the use of AI in the methods or acknowledgment section, if applicable.

6. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

Corrections will be issued when errors affect the article’s reliability.
Retractions will be made in cases of confirmed serious ethical violations.
Expressions of concern may be published while investigations are ongoing.

7. Appeals and Complaints

Authors who wish to appeal an editorial decision or file a complaint regarding misconduct may contact the Editor-in-Chief directly at:
editorial@ijaph.img.co.id
All appeals will be reviewed in accordance with COPE procedures and resolved transparently.

For more information on IJAPH’s policies, please visit:
https://www.img.co.id