Submissions

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Submission Preparation Checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.
  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format.
  • Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
  • The text is single-spaced; uses a 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
  • The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.

Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines for the African Journal of Health and Medical Sciences (AFJHMS)

1. Scope and Aims of the Journal

AFJHMS publishes high-quality, original research that advances knowledge in all areas of health and medical sciences, with a focus on research that addresses the health challenges in Africa. The journal welcomes submissions including but not limited to original research articles, reviews, case reports, clinical studies, and short communications.

2. Manuscript Categories

  • Original Research Articles: Reports of original clinical or experimental research. Typically, these should not exceed 5,000 words, excluding references.
  • Review Articles: Comprehensive overviews of specific topics or research areas. Word limit: up to 7,000 words.
  • Case Reports: Detailed descriptions of a single case or a small series of cases with significant learning points. Word limit: up to 2,500 words.
  • Short Communications: Brief reports of preliminary findings or unique observations. Word limit: up to 1,500 words.
  • Letters to the Editor: Comments on articles published in the journal or other significant health-related issues. Word limit: up to 1,000 words.

3. Submission Process

  • Manuscripts must be submitted online via the AFJHMS submission system at Submit Manuscript
  • Ensure that all files are submitted, including the main manuscript, figures, tables, and supplementary materials.

4. Manuscript Preparation

  • Language: Manuscripts must be written in English. Authors for whom English is not their first language may consider using language editing services before submission.
  • Formatting: Use a standard font (e.g., Times New Roman), size 12, double-spaced with 1-inch margins.
  • Structure:
    • Title Page: Include the title of the manuscript, author names, affiliations, corresponding author details, and a brief running title.
    • Abstract: A concise summary of the study (up to 250 words), including background, methods, results, and conclusions. Avoid references and abbreviations.
    • Keywords: Provide 4-6 keywords that best describe the content of the article.
    • Main Text: Structured as Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Use headings and subheadings to organize the content.
    • References: Use the Vancouver style for referencing. Ensure all references are cited in the text and listed at the end of the manuscript.
    • Figures and Tables: Number consecutively and provide a brief title and legend. Figures should be submitted in high-resolution formats (JPEG, PNG, or TIFF).
    • Supplementary Material: Provide any additional material as separate files, clearly labeled.

5. Ethical Considerations

  • Ethics Approval and Consent: For research involving human or animal subjects, provide details of ethical approval and informed consent procedures.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Plagiarism: Manuscripts must be original and not under consideration by other journals. Plagiarism will be checked using appropriate software.

6. Authorship Criteria

  • All listed authors should have made significant contributions to the study, including conception, design, execution, or interpretation of data.
  • All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.

7. Data Availability

  • Authors are encouraged to make their data available in public repositories or provide a statement on data availability in the manuscript.

8. Review and Publication Process

  • Peer Review: Manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers.
  • Decision: Based on the reviewers' comments, the manuscript may be accepted, revised, or rejected. Authors will be notified of the decision via email.
  • Revisions: If revisions are requested, authors should respond to all reviewer comments and submit the revised manuscript within the specified time frame.
  • Publication: Accepted manuscripts will be published online first, followed by inclusion in a subsequent issue.

9. Open Access and Copyright

  • AFJHMS is an open-access journal, and all articles are freely accessible online. Authors are required to transfer copyright to the journal upon acceptance.

10. Contact Information

  • For any questions regarding the submission process, please contact the editorial office at info@afjhms.com.

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