UNICAMILLUS GLOBAL HEALTH JOURNAL

Publication Ethics and Editorial Guidelines

 

This document sets out the principles of research integrity, editorial procedures, and essential requirements for preparing submissions to the UniCamillus Global Health Journal (UGHJ). It applies to authors, reviewers, and editors and aims to promote transparency, fairness, accountability, and respect for international publication-ethics standards.

1. Editorial Policy and Manuscript Assessment

The editorial team assesses manuscripts according to their relevance to the journal’s aims and scope, originality, soundness of argument or methodology, clarity of presentation, and compliance with ethical principles. Submission does not guarantee acceptance or publication. The final decision rests with the editorial leadership, informed by scholarly assessment and the applicable peer-review process.

The editorial team may request revisions, clarifications, additional documentation, or formal changes. Editorial interventions are intended to improve readability and consistency and must not alter the scholarly meaning of a contribution without the authors’ consent.

UGHJ draws on the Core Practices and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), as well as the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), where relevant.

2. Types of Contribution and Indicative Lengths

UGHJ welcomes interdisciplinary contributions relevant to global health and its social, cultural, historical, political, environmental, technological, and clinical dimensions. Submissions may include empirical research, theoretical or conceptual analyses, literature reviews, historical or ethical studies, policy-oriented discussion, accounts of practice or field experience, and editorial reflections. These descriptions indicate possible forms of scholarly contribution and do not establish a fixed or exhaustive system of formal journal sections. The editorial team may consider work that does not fit neatly into these descriptions, provided that it is relevant to the journal’s aims and scope and meets its standards of originality, rigour, and ethical integrity.

The word counts below are indicative editorial guidance, not binding limits or automatic criteria for acceptance or rejection. The editorial team may agree to a different length according to the nature, complexity, and purpose of a manuscript. Unless otherwise specified, word counts refer to the main text and exclude the abstract, references, captions, tables, figures, and supplementary material. Authors should prioritise clarity, completeness, and a proportionate presentation of evidence over length alone.

Commissioned contributions and editorials. The editorial team may occasionally invite or commission manuscripts on specific topics. An invitation or commission does not guarantee peer review, acceptance, or publication. Commissioned contributions remain subject to editorial assessment and all applicable ethical requirements. Editorials and proposed short commentaries should be discussed with the editorial team before submission, where appropriate.

2.1. Types of Contribution and Indicative Word Counts

Research article or original study: approximately 3,000–5,000 words. It should present the objectives or research question, context, materials or participants, methods, findings, limitations, and implications.

Literature review or systematic review: approximately 3,000–5,000 words. Systematic reviews should state the review question, eligibility criteria, sources searched, search strategy, selection process, and synthesis method; where appropriate, they should follow PRISMA or another relevant reporting guideline.

Theoretical, conceptual, historical, ethical, or interdisciplinary article: approximately 3,000–5,000 words. It should develop a clear argument, document its sources, and situate the discussion within the relevant scholarly debate.

Contribution based on experience, practice, or field interventions: approximately 1,500–3,000 words. It should describe the context, the authors’ roles, the activities or materials analysed, the findings or observations, and the limitations of the experience.

Editorial, issue introduction, or short critical contribution: approximately 800–1,500 words. The length and references may be agreed with the editorial leadership according to the contribution’s purpose.

The editorial team may consider submissions that do not fit exactly into the types described above. Word counts are guidelines, not automatic criteria for acceptance or rejection. Any specific instructions issued by the editorial team take precedence over these general guidelines.

2.2. Abstracts, Keywords, and References

Where requested by the editorial team or appropriate to the contribution, the abstract should normally not exceed 250 words. For empirical studies, a structured abstract covering objective, methods, results, and conclusions is preferred; other contributions may use an unstructured abstract. Keywords should accurately reflect the manuscript’s subject matter.

The number of references should be appropriate to the subject and type of contribution, prioritising relevant, reliable, and up-to-date sources while avoiding unnecessary citation. For biomedical contributions, a numbered citation style consistent with ICMJE recommendations is encouraged; contributions in the humanities and social sciences may use an appropriate disciplinary style, provided it is applied consistently. Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all references, including titles, authors, publication details, URLs, DOIs, and access dates where relevant.

For empirical studies, authors are encouraged to follow relevant reporting guidelines, which can be identified through the EQUATOR Network (https://www.equator-network.org/). For systematic reviews, PRISMA (https://www.prisma-statement.org/) or another standard appropriate to the review design is recommended.

Systematic reviews should explain the review question, eligibility criteria, databases and other sources searched, search dates and strategy, screening and selection process, and method of synthesis. The protocol should be registered in PROSPERO or another suitable public repository where appropriate. Authors should report inclusion and exclusion criteria transparently, use a flow diagram where recommended by the applicable reporting guideline, and provide the full search strategy in the manuscript or supplementary material. Searches should not be restricted to a single language without a clear methodological justification; where multilingual sources are included, the methods used to assess them should be described. The search should be sufficiently current for the question addressed, and any time limits should be stated.

3. Originality, Prior Publication, and Plagiarism

Authors must submit original work and disclose any preprints, previous versions, translations, outputs derived from the same research, or closely related publications. Any prior versions or related materials must be declared at submission. A manuscript must not be under consideration by another journal at the same time unless the editorial leadership has explicitly authorised this.

Plagiarism includes the unattributed use of another person’s words, ideas, data, images, or other material. Substantial reuse of one’s own text without appropriate citation or disclosure may constitute self-plagiarism. Direct quotations must be clearly identified and accurately referenced. Where plagiarism or duplication is suspected, the editorial team will conduct proportionate checks and may seek explanations from the authors, reject the manuscript, or take other appropriate action.

4. Authorship and Contributions

Authorship should be limited to those who have made a substantial contribution to the work and are willing to take responsibility for their contribution and for the integrity of the manuscript as a whole. All authors must approve the final version and agree to its submission. Individuals who contributed but do not meet the criteria for authorship should, with their consent, be acknowledged in the acknowledgements section.

The corresponding author confirms that all appropriate authors are included, that the order of authorship has been agreed, and that any subsequent changes are justified and approved by all authors concerned. Honorary authorship and ghost authorship are not acceptable. Individual author contributions should be provided at submission where the submission system allows or the editorial team requests them. ORCID identifiers are encouraged. UGHJ welcomes submissions from researchers in low- and middle-income countries and encourages equitable collaboration, appropriate recognition of researchers and institutions in the settings where research is conducted, and transparent acknowledgement of local expertise. No fixed country-based authorship quota is imposed.

5. Research Ethics and Protection of Participants

Research involving people, personal data, biological samples, or communities must comply with the laws applicable where the research is conducted and with ethical standards relevant to the study design. Where required, authors must obtain prior approval from an appropriate research ethics committee and informed consent from participants or their legal representatives. The confidentiality, dignity, safety, and rights of those involved must be protected.

The manuscript must identify the relevant ethics committee and provide the approval reference or explain any exemption, in accordance with applicable rules. It must also describe consent procedures and measures taken to protect data and identities. If ethical review was not required, the authors must explain why.

Authors are responsible for obtaining all necessary approvals and reporting them accurately. Approval by an ethics committee does not replace any other authorisations required by law or by the relevant institutions. Ethical obligations apply across disciplines and methods: social science, historical, qualitative, ethnographic, community-based, and other non-clinical research may raise issues of consent, privacy, confidentiality, power imbalances, safeguarding, representation, or potential harm even when formal medical ethics review is not applicable. Authors should explain the ethical framework and safeguards relevant to their study and justify any claim that formal review or consent was not required.

For biomedical research involving human participants, authors should follow the current version of the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki where applicable, together with relevant local laws and discipline-specific ethical standards. The manuscript must identify the ethics committee that reviewed the study, provide the approval reference or explain why review was not required, and describe informed consent procedures where applicable. For qualitative, ethnographic, historical, social, or interdisciplinary research, authors should explain how consent, confidentiality, data protection, and risks to participants or communities were addressed. If individual consent was not required or was impracticable, the reasons and safeguards must be stated.

Reports of clinical trials should identify the trial registry and registration number. Prospective public registration before enrolment is expected where required by applicable standards and policies. Authors must not describe a study as exempt from registration without explaining the basis for that conclusion.

Authors are encouraged to follow reporting guidelines appropriate to the study design, including those listed by the EQUATOR Network (https://www.equator-network.org/). Systematic reviews should follow PRISMA or another relevant guideline (https://www.prisma-statement.org/). Where relevant to the study, authors should report sex- and gender-related information transparently and consult applicable SAGER guidance.

6. Peer Review and Editorial Independence

All research manuscripts considered suitable after the initial editorial assessment are subject to double-blind peer review by at least two independent external reviewers with relevant expertise. Authors and reviewers should not be identifiable to one another during the review process. The editorial team considers the reviewers’ reports but retains responsibility for the final decision. Reviewers must assess manuscripts fairly, confidentially, and in a timely manner; disclose conflicts of interest; and not use unpublished information for personal or professional advantage. The editorial team may request revisions or reject a manuscript where its quality, relevance, or ethical compliance is insufficient.

Editors must recuse themselves from decisions where personal, professional, or financial conflicts exist. Editorial decisions must be independent of commercial, institutional, or personal pressure and based on scholarly merit, relevance, and compliance with ethical requirements. Invited or commissioned contributions are not guaranteed acceptance and remain subject to appropriate editorial and ethical assessment.

7. Conflicts of Interest and Funding

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose financial and non-financial interests that could influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, the work or its assessment. If no conflicts exist, an explicit declaration must be provided. The editorial team may publish relevant declarations.

Authors must identify all sources of funding and, where relevant, describe the funders’ role in study design, data collection and analysis, manuscript preparation, and the decision to publish.

8. Data, Images, Materials, and Reproducibility

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, integrity, provenance, and appropriate presentation of data, images, tables, and supplementary materials. Fabrication, falsification, misleading manipulation, selective presentation that distorts findings, or intentional omission of relevant data is unacceptable. Any corrections or limitations relating to the data must be disclosed. Data and materials should be shared where ethically and legally possible, subject to confidentiality, informed consent, privacy, safeguarding, intellectual-property rights, and applicable agreements. Where datasets or supplementary files are deposited in an external repository, authors are encouraged to use a stable repository and provide a DOI or other persistent identifier. If data cannot be shared, the manuscript should explain the restriction where relevant.

Figures, tables, and boxes must be numbered consecutively, provided with explanatory titles or captions, and cited in the text. They should clarify the argument or present relevant evidence without unnecessarily duplicating the narrative. Authors must ensure that images and visual materials are accurate, appropriately labelled, and not manipulated in a misleading way. Maps may be included when they are necessary to explain the study setting, methods, or findings; authors should consider whether place names, boundaries, or other details could create risks for individuals or communities. Authors submitting third-party material must obtain the necessary permissions and provide appropriate attribution.

9. Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools must not be listed as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, source attribution, confidentiality, and integrity of their manuscripts. Substantial use of AI tools in text production, analysis, translation, image creation, or other parts of the work must be disclosed transparently, identifying the tool and purpose of use where relevant. AI tools must not be used to fabricate or manipulate data, references, images, results, or citations. Authors must verify all AI-generated material and references. Reviewers and editors must not upload confidential manuscripts, peer-review reports, or unpublished material to AI systems or other third-party services where confidentiality cannot be assured. Any permitted use of AI by reviewers or editors must not replace their own critical judgement, and they remain responsible for their assessments and decisions.

10. Complaints, Appeals, Corrections, and Retractions

Authors may appeal an editorial decision within four weeks of notification, providing specific reasons addressing substantive aspects of the assessment. Where possible, the appeal will be reviewed by an editor who was not involved in the original decision. An appeal does not guarantee a different outcome.

Complaints concerning editorial handling, peer review, or editorial conduct may be submitted through the journal’s official contact channels. They will be assessed impartially and confidentially as far as possible. If substantial errors or integrity concerns emerge after publication, the journal may issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, depending on the seriousness of the issue and the available evidence, in accordance with COPE guidance.

11. Open Access, Copyright, and Fees

UGHJ publishes a print edition and a fully open-access electronic edition. The online version is freely accessible and downloadable. Authors are not charged submission or publication fees, including Article Processing Charges (APCs). Authors retain copyright in their work. The published digital version is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This licence requires attribution, limits reuse to non-commercial purposes, and does not permit distribution of adapted material. The corresponding author confirms, on behalf of all co-authors, acceptance of the applicable licence. The journal’s website should be consulted for the licence terms and any additional information about reuse.

Authors may deposit the accepted manuscript and the published version in institutional or subject repositories, provided that the deposit and any subsequent use comply with the applicable CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence and any relevant legal requirements. Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce third-party copyrighted material and must provide the relevant attribution and permission when submitting the manuscript.

12. Manuscript Preparation and Submission

12.1. Submission and Correspondence

Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s official website (https://ughj.unicamillus.org/). For assistance with online submission or editorial enquiries, please contact ughj@unicamillus.org.

Authors should ensure that the submission is complete and internally consistent before sending it for consideration. The editorial team may return submissions for missing information, inadequate anonymisation, incomplete declarations, or failure to follow the journal’s essential requirements. Questions about suitability, submission procedures, or requested documentation may be directed to the editorial office.

12.2. Languages, Title Page, and Affiliations

Submissions may be made in Italian or English unless the editorial team specifies otherwise. The title page must include the title, full names of all authors, institutional affiliations including city and country, and the corresponding author’s contact details. ORCID identifiers are encouraged. The order of authorship must be agreed before submission. Acknowledgements, individual author contributions where requested, funding sources, conflicts of interest, and ethics approval or exemption statements must be included where applicable. Authors must disclose related manuscripts, preprints, previous versions, or publications derived from the same work and provide permission for any third-party material included in the submission. The manuscript file intended for double-blind review should omit identifying information where necessary to preserve reviewer and author anonymity.

12.3. Abstract, Keywords, and References

Where required for the type of contribution, the abstract must be in English and must not exceed 250 words. For empirical studies, the preferred structure is Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. Relevant keywords must be provided, in English where required.

References must be complete, accurate, and cited consistently. For biomedical contributions, a numbered style consistent with ICMJE recommendations is encouraged (https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/); for other contributions, an appropriate disciplinary style may be used consistently.

12.4. Supplementary Material

Supplementary materials, additional datasets, methodological appendices, instruments, and multimedia files should be identified in the manuscript and accompanied by a clear description. Where feasible, authors are encouraged to deposit these materials in a suitable repository that provides a stable URL and, preferably, a DOI or other persistent identifier. Authors must state any restrictions on access or sharing and ensure that supplementary files do not disclose confidential, identifying, or otherwise protected information without appropriate authority and safeguards.

13. Reference Standards and Final Statement

For publication-ethics matters not expressly covered by this document, UGHJ draws on the Core Practices and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), together with applicable laws and recognised ethical and professional standards in the relevant discipline. Reports of possible misconduct will be considered seriously, impartially, and confidentially as far as possible. The journal may request explanations or supporting documentation and may take proportionate action in response to the evidence, including rejection, correction, expression of concern, or retraction where appropriate.

• COPE – Core Practices: https://publicationethics.org/core-practices
• COPE – Guidance: https://publicationethics.org/guidance

This document will be reviewed periodically to maintain its relevance to developments in research integrity, publication ethics, and editorial practice. The journal’s policies and procedures are intended to support transparent, fair, and accountable editorial decisions.

 

Journal website: https://ughj.unicamillus.org/