Publication Ethics

This journal is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. The journal adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and expects all authors, reviewers, and editors to observe integrity, transparency, and responsible conduct throughout the publication process. Ethical compliance is mandatory for acceptance and continued publication.

  1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors
    1.1 Originality and Integrity

Authors must ensure that their manuscript is an original work and free from plagiarism, duplication, data manipulation, or fraudulent practices. Any use of others’ ideas, words, or data must be properly cited.

1.2 Multiple or Redundant Publication

Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals concurrently is prohibited. Previously published content, in whole or in part, will not be accepted unless properly justified and disclosed.

1.3 Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to those who have made substantial contributions to the study’s conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation. All authors must approve the final manuscript before submission. Ghost authorship, guest authorship, and honorary authorship are not allowed.

1.4 Ethical Approval and Consent

Manuscripts involving human participants must include a statement of ethics committee approval and informed consent. Research that fails to demonstrate ethical compliance will be rejected.

1.5 Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence the research or its interpretation. When no conflicts exist, the manuscript must state:
“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

  1. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers
    2.1 Confidentiality

Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents and must not share, copy, or use the content for personal benefit.

2.2 Objectivity and Collegiality

  • Reviews must be conducted objectively, providing constructive feedback without personal criticism.
  • Reviewers should decline reviews when the topic falls outside their expertise.

2.3 Conflict of Interest

Any competing interest such as professional, institutional, or personal that may compromise impartiality must be disclosed. Reviewers with such conflicts should recuse themselves.

  1. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors
    3.1 Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit, relevance, originality, and adherence to ethical standards. The Editor-in-Chief ensures that decisions are free from bias or external influence.

3.2 Fair and Transparent Process

Editors oversee the initial screening, plagiarism checks, peer review, and decision-making. Manuscripts are anonymized before review to protect author and reviewer identities.

3.3 Handling of Misconduct

Editors investigate all allegations of unethical behavior. Confirmed cases of misconduct may result in:

  • Rejection of the manuscript
  • Retraction of a published article
  • Notification of the author’s institution
  1. Plagiarism Detection and Similarity Screening

All submissions undergo plagiarism checking using reputable similarity-detection tools. Manuscripts with excessive similarity, poorly cited material, or evidence of intentional copying will be rejected or returned for correction. Fabrication and falsification of data are strictly prohibited.

  1. Post-Publication Corrections and Retractions

IJOMAHIP follows COPE guidelines for corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern:

  • Corrections address minor errors that do not undermine the study’s validity.
  • Retractions apply to major ethical or scientific issues, including misconduct, plagiarism, or erroneous data.
  • Expressions of concern are issued when investigation is ongoing.
  • All corrective actions are clearly documented and permanently available.
  1. Data Integrity and Transparency

Authors must ensure the accuracy of data and analyses presented. The journal may request raw data to verify results. Data sharing is encouraged when ethically permissible but must respect privacy, confidentiality, and institutional regulations.

  1. Ethical Use of AI Tools

Authors must disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in writing, data analysis, coding, or figure generation. Authors remain fully responsible for verifying accuracy and ensuring that AI use does not compromise research integrity. AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

  1. Transparency Statement

By submitting to IJOMAHIP, authors affirm that:

  • The manuscript complies with all ethical standards.
  • All necessary disclosures, approvals, and permissions are included.
  • The work adheres to COPE, DOAJ, and journal-specific ethical requirements.
  • Failure to meet these standards may result in rejection, withdrawal, or retraction.