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Research Ethics

The International Journal of Adolescent and Pediatric Health (IJAPH) upholds the highest standards of ethical research conduct and follows globally accepted guidelines in the publication of biomedical and social science research involving human participants, particularly vulnerable populations such as adolescents and children.

 1. Ethical Compliance Requirement

All submitted manuscripts must comply with recognized ethical standards for research involving humans. Authors are required to confirm that their research:

  • Has been conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association)

  • Has received prior approval from an appropriate ethics review board/institutional review board (IRB)

  • Has obtained informed consent (and assent where applicable) from all participants, or their legal guardians for minors

  • Adheres to national and international laws and regulations concerning data protection, human rights, and research ethics

 2. Research Involving Children and Adolescents

Given the journal's focus, special attention is paid to research involving vulnerable populations such as children and adolescents. Authors must ensure:

  • Age-appropriate assent is obtained in addition to parental/guardian consent

  • Confidentiality and anonymity are rigorously maintained

  • Non-coercive recruitment procedures are used

  • The study presents minimal risk and has clear benefit or relevance to the population involved

 3. Ethics Statement Requirement

All manuscripts involving human participants must include a clear “Ethical Considerations” or “Ethical Approval”section, stating:

  • The name of the ethics committee that approved the study

  • The approval reference number or decision letter date

  • A statement confirming informed consent/assent was obtained

Example:

“This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of [Institution Name] (Approval No: XXX/2025). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants and assent from minors aged 12–17.”

4. Privacy and Confidentiality

IJAPH requires strict adherence to participant confidentiality and data privacy. Identifiable personal information (names, photographs, videos) should only be published with explicit written permission from the individual or guardian.

 5. Data Fabrication and Falsification

Any form of data manipulation, fabrication, or falsification is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate rejection or retraction of the article, in line with COPE retraction guidelines.

 6. Animal Research (If Applicable)

Although IJAPH is focused on human health, studies involving animals must follow ethical principles as outlined in:

  • The International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals

  • National regulations on animal care and use
    Authors must obtain ethical approval from an animal care and use committee and provide the approval details in the manuscript.

 7. Ethical Misconduct and Reporting

Suspected ethical violations (e.g., unethical study design, lack of IRB approval, failure to obtain consent) will be investigated by the editorial board in accordance with COPE's flowcharts for ethical oversight. Sanctions may include:

  • Manuscript rejection

  • Retraction of published work

  • Notification to authors’ institutions

8. Author Responsibilities

Authors must:

  • Ensure all authors have contributed and approved the final manuscript

  • Disclose any conflicts of interest or funding sources

  • Declare authenticity of data and originality of the work

  • Confirm ethical compliance in the submission form and manuscript

9. Questions or Clarifications

For questions regarding research ethics requirements, please contact:

 ethics@ijaph.img.co.id
 www.img.co.id