Reviewer Policies
1. Reviewers Guidelines - African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases
The African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases (AJMTD) relies on expert reviewers to assess the quality, originality, and scientific rigor of the manuscripts submitted for publication. The journal has established clear reviewer guidelines to ensure that the review process is fair, thorough, and transparent.
Reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts objectively, considering aspects such as the novelty of the research, clarity of the hypothesis, appropriateness of the study design, soundness of methodology, and the significance of the findings. They should provide constructive and detailed feedback, pointing out both strengths and areas for improvement. Reviewers are also responsible for checking the ethical considerations in the study, including informed consent, animal welfare, and data integrity.
Reviewers should maintain confidentiality at all times. They must not share, discuss, or disclose any details of the manuscript with anyone, and they should avoid using the knowledge gained from the manuscript for personal gain. The review process is double-blind, meaning that reviewers should not know the identity of the authors, and the authors will also remain unaware of the reviewers' identities.
Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest that may influence their impartiality in reviewing the manuscript. They should not review manuscripts in which they have a personal or financial interest. Finally, all feedback should be submitted in a timely manner, as delayed reviews can impact the publication schedule.
By adhering to these guidelines, reviewers help ensure that only high-quality, ethically sound research is published in the African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases, contributing to the journal's reputation as a trusted source of scientific knowledge in the field of tropical diseases and malaria.
2. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (Specific to Reviewers) - African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases
The African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases (AJMTD) has a robust policy on conflict of interest and financial disclosures for reviewers to ensure the integrity and impartiality of the peer review process.
Reviewers are required to disclose any potential conflict of interest prior to accepting a review invitation. A conflict of interest arises if the reviewer has any financial, personal, or professional connections with the authors or the subject matter of the manuscript. This includes, but is not limited to, the following situations:
- The reviewer has previously collaborated with the authors or is currently involved in a research project with them.
- The reviewer has a personal relationship with the authors, such as a family member or close friend.
- The reviewer has a financial interest in the results of the study, such as funding or personal investments in the research area.
- The reviewer has a professional rivalry or bias that could affect their objectivity.
If any of these conflicts exist, the reviewer must immediately recuse themselves from reviewing the manuscript. This step is crucial to maintain the credibility of the journal and the impartiality of the review process.
In addition to conflicts of interest, reviewers are also expected to disclose any financial relationships that could influence their objectivity, such as funding or employment ties with competing organizations or research groups. This is particularly important in research areas like tropical diseases and malaria, where commercial and political interests may be involved in the funding of research.
The African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases is committed to transparency and integrity in the publication process, and by enforcing these conflict-of-interest and financial disclosure policies, it ensures that the peer review process remains fair, unbiased, and credible. Reviewers who do not disclose relevant conflicts or financial interests may be subject to exclusion from future review assignments.
