Submission Guidelines and Manuscript Preparation
The Journal of Community Medicine and Health Sciences (JCMHS) encourages authors to submit original, high-quality manuscripts that contribute to the fields of public health, epidemiology, and community medicine. These guidelines explain the manuscript submission process, formatting standards, and ethical responsibilities required for publication.
1. Online Submission System
Authors must submit manuscripts exclusively through the online Open Journal Systems (OJS) portal available on the journal website. First-time users must register and create an author profile before submission. After submission, each manuscript receives a unique identification number for tracking.
2. Preparing Your Manuscript
Submissions must be in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format and include all essential sections. Manuscripts should be written in clear English and checked for grammar and spelling before upload.
Required Components:
- Title page
- Abstract and keywords
- Main text (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
- References
- Figures and tables
- Supplementary materials (if applicable)
3. Title Page
The title page should include:
- Manuscript title (concise, ≤ 18 words)
- Full author names and institutional affiliations
- Corresponding author’s name, email, postal address, and ORCID ID
- Funding statement and conflict-of-interest disclosure
- Word count and number of tables/figures
4. Abstract and Keywords
Provide a structured abstract of ≤ 250 words divided into Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusion. Include 4–6 keywords consistent with MeSH or relevant scientific terminology.
5. Main Text Format
- Introduction: State the research rationale, objectives, and relevance.
- Materials and Methods: Describe study design, participants, procedures, instruments, and statistical analysis clearly enough for replication.
- Results: Present findings objectively with appropriate tables and figures.
- Discussion: Interpret results, highlight strengths/limitations, and link findings to broader literature.
- Conclusion: Summarize implications and recommendations.
6. Formatting Requirements
- Font: Times New Roman 12 pt; line spacing 1.5
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Page numbers: bottom right corner
- Headings: use consistent hierarchical levels (H1–H3)
- Figures and tables numbered consecutively
7. Tables and Figures
Tables should appear within the text after their first citation. Each table must include a clear title above and footnotes below. Figures must be high-resolution (≥ 300 dpi) and submitted as separate files in JPEG, PNG, or TIFF formats. Legends should be concise and placed below each figure.
8. References
References must follow the Vancouver style (ICMJE Uniform Requirements). Number references consecutively in order of appearance and cite them in brackets [1], [2–4].
Examples:
- Journal Article: Smith A, Brown T. Community health initiatives in low-income regions. J Community Med Health Sci. 2024; 9(1): 45-52.
- Book: Green B, White R. Public Health Essentials. Oxford University Press; 2023.
- Web: World Health Organization. Health statistics. Available from: https://www.who.int [Accessed 2025 Jan 10].
9. Ethical Requirements
- Human studies must include ethics-committee approval and informed-consent statements.
- Animal studies must follow institutional and international welfare standards.
- Clinical trials must be registered in recognized public trial registries.
- Conflicts of interest must be disclosed for all authors.
10. Authorship Criteria
Authorship should reflect substantial contribution to the study’s design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript drafting. Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be listed in Acknowledgments.
11. Supplementary Material
Authors may submit supplementary data such as datasets, videos, or extended tables. These should be cited within the text and uploaded as separate files with appropriate captions and legends.
12. File Naming and Upload Instructions
- Manuscript file: “JCMHS_[corresponding author surname]_Main.docx”
- Figure files: “JCMHS_[figure number].tiff”
- Supplementary files: “JCMHS_Supplementary_[number].pdf”
Each file must be uploaded individually under the appropriate category in OJS.
13. Submission Checklist
Before submission, ensure that:
- ☑ Manuscript follows formatting rules
- ☑ All authors approved the final version
- ☑ Conflict-of-interest and ethics statements included
- ☑ References conform to Vancouver style
- ☑ Tables and figures embedded and uploaded separately
- ☑ Cover letter attached summarizing study significance
14. Cover Letter Requirements
The cover letter should include:
- Title of the manuscript
- Type of submission (Original Article, Review, etc.)
- Brief description of novelty and significance
- Confirmation that the manuscript is not under review elsewhere
- Corresponding author’s complete contact information
15. Plagiarism and Originality Check
All manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening via iThenticate. Submissions exceeding 15 % similarity (excluding references) are returned for revision. Duplicate or redundant publication constitutes misconduct under COPE guidelines.
16. Peer-Review Process
JCMHS applies a double-blind peer-review system. The review period typically ranges from 2 to 4 weeks. Authors will receive reviewers’ comments and are expected to submit a detailed revision response addressing each point raised.
17. Post-Acceptance Workflow
- Acceptance notification sent to the corresponding author.
- Invoice issued for the applicable APC.
- Manuscript proceeds to copy-editing and layout design.
- Proof sent for author approval prior to final publication.
18. Data Availability and Transparency
Authors must include a “Data Availability Statement” clarifying where the data supporting the findings can be accessed. Depositing datasets in open repositories (Zenodo, Dryad, Figshare) is strongly encouraged.
19. Post-Publication Revisions and Corrections
Corrections or retractions after publication will follow the journal’s Withdrawal Policy. Any substantial post-publication updates are accompanied by a correction notice linked to the article DOI.
20. Technical Assistance
For technical issues during submission, authors may contact the journal’s IT support team at [email protected].
21. Contact and Support
For editorial queries:
- Email: [email protected]
- Subject: “Submission Query – [Manuscript ID if available]”
- Response time: 3–5 business days
22. Final Submission Confirmation
Upon successful submission, authors will receive an automated confirmation email. The corresponding author can track manuscript progress through the OJS dashboard under “Active Submissions.”
“Adhering to precise submission and formatting standards ensures a faster review cycle and professional presentation of your research.”