Ethical oversight

Andalas Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal (AOJ)  is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. This policy encompasses various aspects of ethical oversight to ensure the protection of participants, animals, and confidential data, as well as the ethical conduct of business and marketing practices. The journal follows the Core Practices outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Consent to Publication

AOJ requires authors to obtain appropriate consent from all individuals or entities mentioned in the research or involved in the study. This includes consent to publish identifiable information, images, or other personally identifiable data. Authors should provide documentation of consent when submitting their manuscripts.

2. Publication on Vulnerable Populations

AOJ is sensitive to research involving vulnerable populations, such as children, elderly individuals, mentally challenged individuals, or other marginalized groups. Authors should adhere to ethical guidelines when conducting research on such populations and should provide a clear justification for the inclusion of vulnerable participants.

3. Ethical Conduct of Research Using Animals

If the research involves the use of animals, authors must comply with all relevant ethical guidelines and regulations for animal research. Authors should clearly state in their manuscript that the study received ethical approval from the appropriate animal ethics committee or institutional review board.

4. Ethical Conduct of Research Using Human Subjects

For research involving human subjects, authors must obtain informed consent from all participants and follow relevant ethical guidelines, such as the Declaration of Helsinki or applicable national guidelines. The research protocol should receive approval from the institutional review board or ethics committee.

5. Handling Confidential Data

AOJ ensures the confidentiality and security of any confidential data provided during the submission and review process. Reviewers and editorial staff are required to treat all submitted materials with confidentiality and must not disclose any information regarding the submitted manuscripts to any unauthorized individuals.

6. Ethical Business/Marketing Practices

AOJ is committed to ethical business and marketing practices. The journal does not engage in any practices that may compromise the integrity of the publishing process or mislead authors or readers. AOJ does not support any form of predatory publishing, non-standards, or unethical marketing strategies.

7. Compliance and Reporting

Authors should comply with all aspects of this ethical oversight policy and provide full disclosure of any potential ethical concerns during the submission process. Failure to adhere to ethical guidelines may result in rejection or retraction of the manuscript, as well as other appropriate actions.

8. Review of the Policy

Andalas Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal (AOJ)  will periodically review and update this policy to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with best ethical practices. Any revisions to this policy will be communicated to authors and made publicly available on the journal's website.