Post Publication Discussion Policy
The Journal of Maternal and Child Health (JMCH) supports constructive scholarly discussion of articles after publication to promote scientific debate, clarify research findings, identify potential errors, and maintain the integrity of the scholarly record. In accordance with the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the journal provides a mechanism for readers and researchers to raise substantive concerns, offer alternative interpretations, and seek clarification regarding previously published articles.
1. Scope of Post-Publication Discussion
Post-publication discussions may be submitted in the form of a Letter to the Editor, Commentary, or other appropriate scholarly correspondence concerning an article previously published in the JMCH. Submissions may address, but are not limited to:
- Methodological issues, statistical analyses, or interpretation of research findings.
- The validity, accuracy, or reproducibility of reported results.
- Alternative interpretations of the findings or their implications for clinical practice and public health.
- Errors, omissions, or inconsistencies in the published article.
- Concerns regarding research integrity, publication ethics, or compliance with applicable ethical standards.
Submissions must contribute meaningfully to scholarly discourse and be supported by appropriate evidence and relevant references where applicable.
2. Submission Requirements
Authors submitting a post-publication critique should clearly identify the article under discussion, including its title, authors, publication year, and DOI or other permanent identifier, where available. The submission should provide a clear explanation of the issue raised, supporting evidence, relevant references, and the implications for the interpretation or reliability of the published work.
The submission must comply with the journal's applicable requirements for manuscript preparation, authorship, disclosure of competing interests, and research ethics. All contributors must meet the journal's authorship criteria, where applicable.
Anonymous submissions are generally not considered. The journal may consider exceptional requests for confidentiality where justified, subject to editorial assessment and applicable ethical and legal requirements.
Post-publication critiques must be scholarly, evidence-based, and respectful. Submissions containing personal attacks, defamatory statements, discriminatory language, unsupported allegations, or material unrelated to the scientific content of the article will not be considered for publication.
3. Editorial Assessment and Peer Review
All post-publication critiques will be assessed by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor. The initial assessment will determine whether the submission is relevant to the journal's published content, provides substantive scholarly value, and is supported by sufficient evidence.
The journal may seek advice from independent experts, external peer reviewers, members of the editorial board, or other qualified specialists when necessary. Particular care will be taken to identify and manage potential competing interests involving the editor, reviewers, the critique's authors, or the authors of the original article.
Where a submission raises concerns that may affect the validity, reliability, or ethical status of a published article, the journal will assess whether further investigation is warranted. Allegations of research or publication misconduct will be handled in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies and relevant COPE guidance.
4. Opportunity for Response by the Original Authors
When a critique is considered potentially suitable for publication, the journal will normally invite the authors of the original article to provide a response. The original authors will generally be given 30 days to submit their response, unless an alternative deadline is justified by the circumstances.
The response should address the substantive issues raised and provide appropriate evidence or clarification. It will be subject to editorial assessment and, where appropriate, peer review.
The journal aims to publish the critique and the corresponding author response together, where practicable, to facilitate a balanced and transparent scholarly exchange. If the original authors decline to respond or fail to respond within the specified deadline, the journal may proceed with publication of the critique if it is judged to be scientifically sound and appropriate. In such cases, the journal may indicate that no response was received.
The journal may limit repeated exchanges on the same article to maintain a focused and constructive discussion. Any decision to limit further correspondence will be based on scholarly relevance, the substance of the issues raised, and the need to avoid repetitive or unproductive exchanges.
5. Editorial Decisions and Possible Outcomes
Following editorial assessment and any necessary peer review, the journal may decide to:
- Accept the critique for publication, with or without a response from the original authors.
- Invite revisions to improve the clarity, accuracy, balance, or evidential support of the critique or response.
- Decline the submission if it lacks sufficient scholarly merit, supporting evidence, relevance, or compliance with the journal's requirements.
- Refer concerns about errors or research integrity for further assessment under the journal's applicable editorial policies.
- Initiate appropriate corrective action for the original article, where warranted, including publication of a correction, an Expression of Concern, or a retraction.
Editorial decisions will be based on scholarly merit, the evidence available, and the potential implications for the accuracy and integrity of the published record. The journal will communicate relevant decisions and next steps to the parties concerned, as appropriate.
6. Corrections and Research Integrity Concerns
Post-publication discussion is distinct from the formal investigation and correction of errors or suspected misconduct. When a critique identifies a potentially significant factual, methodological, ethical, or research integrity concern, the journal will evaluate the issue in accordance with its Corrections, Retractions, and Article Removal Policy and relevant COPE guidance.
Where necessary, the journal may seek clarification or supporting documentation from the authors, consult independent experts, or contact the relevant institution or other responsible body. The journal will assess the available evidence fairly and impartially before determining the appropriate action.
A correction may be issued when an identified error can be rectified without invalidating the overall findings or conclusions. An Expression of Concern may be considered when substantial concerns remain unresolved or an investigation is ongoing and readers need to be informed. Retraction may be warranted when the findings or conclusions are no longer reliable or when other circumstances meet the journal's retraction criteria.
Any corrective notice will be linked to the original article and made accessible to readers. The journal will preserve the publication history and ensure that post-publication actions are transparently documented.
7. Transparency, Confidentiality, and Editorial Independence
The journal will handle post-publication critiques fairly, consistently, and as promptly as reasonably possible. Confidential correspondence and unpublished materials will be treated appropriately throughout the editorial process, subject to applicable ethical and legal obligations.
Editorial decisions will be independent of commercial considerations and will not be influenced by the authors' institutional affiliations, nationality, personal relationships, or other irrelevant factors. Editors and reviewers must disclose and appropriately manage competing interests that could compromise impartial assessment.
The journal will maintain clear records of editorial decisions and relevant communications. Accepted critiques and responses will be linked to the original article and published with appropriate bibliographic information, subject to the journal's publication procedures.
8. Publication and Accessibility
Accepted post-publication critiques and responses will be published as appropriate scholarly correspondence on the journal's website and linked to the original article. Published discussions will remain part of the scholarly record and will not replace or remove the original article.
Where applicable, the journal will facilitate discoverability through bibliographic metadata, persistent identifiers, and indexing arrangements consistent with its publishing practices.
The JMCH encourages responsible, evidence-based, and constructive
