Editorial Policies

Overview

EquiHealth Global Journal employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality, validity, and significance of all published research. Our peer review system is designed to be fair, transparent, and constructive.

Review Process

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial screening to assess their suitability for the journal's scope and quality standards. Manuscripts that pass this initial review are sent to at least two independent expert reviewers in the relevant field.

The double-blind review process ensures that neither authors nor reviewers know each other's identities, minimizing potential bias. Reviewers are asked to evaluate manuscripts based on:

• Originality and significance of the research
• Methodological rigor and appropriateness
• Clarity and organization of presentation
• Relevance to health equity and social justice
• Ethical considerations and compliance

Timeline

We strive to complete the initial peer review within 4-6 weeks of submission. Authors can expect to receive a decision (accept, revise, or reject) along with detailed reviewer comments within this timeframe.

Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions if they believe there has been a misunderstanding or error in the review process. Appeals should be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief within 30 days of the decision.

Ethical Approval

All research involving human participants must have received approval from an appropriate institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee. Studies involving animals must comply with relevant animal welfare regulations and guidelines.

Informed Consent

Research involving human participants requires informed consent from all participants or their legal guardians. Authors must confirm that appropriate consent was obtained and that participant confidentiality has been protected.

Vulnerable Populations

Research involving vulnerable populations (children, prisoners, individuals with cognitive impairments, etc.) requires additional ethical safeguards. Authors must demonstrate that appropriate protections were in place and that the research benefits outweigh potential risks.

Data Protection

Authors must ensure that all personal data is handled in compliance with relevant data protection regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.). Identifiable information should be removed from manuscripts unless explicit consent for publication has been obtained.

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be based on the following criteria, all of which must be met:

• Substantial contributions to conception, design, data acquisition, or analysis and interpretation
• Drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content
• Final approval of the version to be published
• Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work

Corresponding Author

The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the journal, ensuring all co-authors have approved the manuscript, and coordinating revisions. The corresponding author should be available to respond to post-publication queries.

Changes to Authorship

Any changes to authorship (additions, deletions, or reordering) after initial submission must be approved by all authors and explained to the editor. Changes to authorship after acceptance require written agreement from all authors.

Acknowledgments

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged with their permission. This includes technical assistance, writing assistance, and general support.

Copyright Transfer

Upon acceptance, authors transfer copyright of their article to EquiHealth Global Journal. This allows us to protect the work against unauthorized use and to disseminate it as widely as possible.

Author Rights

Authors retain the right to:

• Use the article for teaching and presentations
• Share the article with colleagues for scholarly purposes
• Use the article in future works (books, compilations)
• Post the accepted manuscript on institutional repositories after a 12-month embargo

Third-Party Content

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any third-party content (figures, tables, extensive quotations) included in their manuscript. Proof of permission must be provided upon acceptance.

Commitment to Open Access

EquiHealth Global Journal is committed to making research freely available to readers worldwide. We offer both traditional subscription-based publishing and open access options.

Open Access Options

Authors can choose to make their article immediately and permanently free to access by paying an article processing charge (APC). Open access articles are published under a Creative Commons license, allowing for broad reuse with proper attribution.

Creative Commons Licenses

We offer several Creative Commons license options:

• CC BY: Allows any use with attribution
• CC BY-NC: Allows non-commercial use with attribution
• CC BY-NC-ND: Allows non-commercial use without derivatives, with attribution

Funding Support

We recognize that open access fees may be a barrier for some authors. We offer waivers and discounts for authors from low-income countries and those without institutional funding. Contact our editorial office for more information.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes copying text, ideas, images, or data from another source without proper attribution. This includes self-plagiarism (reusing one's own previously published work without acknowledgment).

Screening Process

All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts with significant similarity to previously published work will be rejected or returned to authors for revision.

Duplicate Publication

Manuscripts submitted to EquiHealth Global Journal must not be under consideration elsewhere and must not have been previously published (except as abstracts or preprints). Authors must disclose any related manuscripts under consideration or in press.

Consequences

Confirmed cases of plagiarism or duplicate publication will result in immediate rejection. If discovered after publication, the article will be retracted. Authors may be banned from submitting to the journal for a specified period.

Disclosure Requirements

All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could be perceived as influencing their work. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications, and grants.

Funding Sources

Authors must declare all sources of funding for their research. The role of funders in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation must be described.

Reviewer Conflicts

Reviewers must also disclose any conflicts of interest that might bias their evaluation. Reviewers should decline to review manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest.

Editorial Conflicts

Editors and editorial board members must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest. An independent editor will handle such submissions.