Peer Review Process

All submissions to Journal of Midwifery Care undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the quality and validity of the published research. The journal operates a double-blind peer review process, meaning that the authors and the reviewers are anonymous. Experts in the relevant fields of study carry out the review process, evaluating the submitted manuscripts on their scientific merit, originality, and relevance to the journal's scope.

1. Initial evaluation: Upon receipt of a manuscript, the editorial board will conduct an initial evaluation to ensure that the manuscript meets the scope and focus of the journal and adheres to the publication conditions. Without further review, the editorial board will reject manuscripts that do not meet these requirements. At this stage, we will reject the manuscript that exhibits a similarity of more than 30%. The editorial office will check the article formatting and citation styles and adhere to the specified author guidelines. The editorial office will return the manuscript to the author for reformatting and resubmission if the required conditions remain unmet. Reviewers will receive the manuscript if it passes approval.

 2. Assignment of reviewers: The editorial board will choose two independent reviewers who possess expertise in the manuscript's research area and are experts in the relevant field of study. Both reviewers and authors will remain anonymous to each other. The manuscript must remove the list of authors' names, acknowledgments, and references to their contributions and post them in the title page file. The assigned editor will then send invitations to the reviewers. We expect the invited reviewers to come from institutions different from those of the corresponding author. In addition, the reviewers will consider the invitation according to their own scientific expertise, potential conflicts of interest, and other relevant criteria. We pledge to assign reviewers for our journal within a fortnight.

3. Review process: The reviewers will evaluate the manuscript based on its scientific quality, originality, validity, and relevance to the field of study. Reviewers typically have two weeks to scrutinize the research work. They will provide constructive feedback to the authors to help improve the manuscript and may recommend acceptance, rejection, or revision.

4. Decision: Based on the reviewers' feedback and the manuscript's adherence to the publication conditions, the editor-in-chief will make the final decision on whether to accept, reject, or request a revision. If the comments or responses of the reviewers differ significantly, the academic editor may invite an additional individual to review the manuscript before making the final decision. The academic editor will send a decision (with rejection, acceptance, or the need for major or minor revisions) to the author via the online system, along with any relevant comments submitted by the reviewers. As our journal adopts the double-blind, peer-review principle, all comments and suggestions remain anonymous. The average time from submission to the first decision will be one month, and from acceptance to publishing will be 2-4 weeks.

5. Revision process: Upon acceptance of the manuscript with revisions, the reviewers' feedback will prompt the authors to revise and resubmit it for additional review. Re-submitted material must include the revised manuscript with highlighted changes and a rebuttal letter. Typically, the author receives two weeks for minor revisions and four weeks for major ones to revise the manuscript. The major revised manuscript will undergo a second round of review by the same reviewers, who will evaluate whether the revisions adequately address their feedback. For minor revisions, the subsequent review process may not be necessary.

6. Publication: After the manuscript's acceptance for publication, the journal will copy and format the author's final version of it.This peer review process will ensure that all manuscripts submitted to the ASEAN Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports are evaluated based on the highest standards of scientific integrity and ethical conduct and that only the highest quality research is published.


The Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement for the Peer Review Process 
Journal of Midwifery Care upholds the highest standards of publication ethics and prevents publication malpractice in its peer review process. We adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Confidentiality: The peer review process is confidential, and all information related to submitted manuscripts is handled with strict confidentiality. Editors, reviewers, and any other involved parties must maintain confidentiality and not disclose any details about the manuscript or its review process.

2. Objectivity and impartiality: We conduct peer review in an objective and unbiased manner. Editors and reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on their scientific merit, relevance, and quality, without any personal bias or conflict of interest. They should provide constructive feedback to authors to improve the quality of their work.

3. Timeliness: Journal of Midwifery Care guarantees timely peer review. We expect editors and reviewers to complete their review process within a reasonable timeframe. The review process will promptly inform authors about the status and progress of their manuscripts.

4. Transparency and Accountability: The peer review process should be transparent and accountable. We encourage reviewers to provide clear, well-reasoned, and constructive feedback. Editors should make fair and well-informed decisions based on the reviewers' comments and their own expertise.

5. Conflict of Interest: Editors and reviewers must declare any potential conflicts of interest that may affect their impartiality and objectivity in the review process. We will take appropriate actions to ensure an unbiased evaluation if a conflict of interest arises.

6. Plagiarism and Misconduct: Editors and reviewers should be vigilant in identifying any potential cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, or other forms of research misconduct. Report any suspected misconduct promptly to the responsible authorities.

7. Peer Reviewer Recognition: Journal of Midwifery Care acknowledges the importance of peer reviewers' contributions and recognizes their expertise and dedication. The journal will provide appropriate recognition and credit to reviewers for their valuable contributions to the publication process.

Journal of Midwifery Care is committed to maintaining the integrity and credibility of the peer review process. We strive to ensure fairness, transparency, and ethical conduct in evaluating manuscripts, thereby upholding the quality and trustworthiness of the research published in our journal.

 

EDITORIAL PROCESS