The Journal of Integrated Maternal and Pediatric Care (JIMPC) is an international, peer‑reviewed, diamond open‑access, continuously published journal and the official journal of the Mother and Newborn Health Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. JIMPC is the successor to the World Journal of Peri & Neonatology (WJPN), 2018–2025, and all WJPN content remains permanently archived and accessible on this website.

JIMPC is fully funded by Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and operates strictly on a non‑commercial basis. No article processing charges (APCs), submission fees, or any other charges are levied on authors at any stage. The journal is committed to the highest standards of publication ethics and follows the guidelines and best practices set forth by:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) – Core Practices and flowcharts
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) – Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals
• Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013) – Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects
• Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) – International ethical guidelines for biomedical research involving human subjects
• ARRIVE guidelines – for reporting animal research

This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of the journal, its editors, reviewers, and authors. All parties involved in the publication process are expected to adhere to these principles.

1. Ethical Framework and Editorial Independence

1.1 Ethical Framework

JIMPC adheres to the core ethical principles outlined by COPE, ICMJE, the Declaration of Helsinki, and CIOMS guidelines. The journal applies these standards to all stages of the publication process, including manuscript submission, peer review, editorial decision‑making, production, and post‑publication handling.

1.2 Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently by the Editor‑in‑Chief, the Associate Editor‑in‑Chief, and the Editorial Board. The funding body (Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences) has no role in editorial decisions. Decisions are based solely on:

• Relevance to the journal’s aims and scope
• Scientific merit
• Originality
• Ethical integrity

1.3 Non‑Commercial Model

JIMPC does not accept advertising or publish sponsored advertorials. Any external support for supplements (if applicable) would be fully disclosed, and editorial control would remain exclusively with the journal.

2. Responsibilities of Editors and the Editorial Board

2.1 Editor‑in‑Chief

The Editor‑in‑Chief holds final responsibility for:

• All editorial decisions
• Ensuring compliance with COPE and ICMJE standards
• Handling allegations of misconduct

2.2 Editorial Board

The Editorial Board reflects diversity in discipline, gender, and geographic distribution. Board members:

• Provide expert comments on submissions
• Advise on journal policy and strategy
• Promote high‑quality submissions
• Uphold ethical standards

2.3 Impartiality

Editors evaluate manuscripts without discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, institutional affiliation, or political beliefs. Decisions are based strictly on scientific content.

2.4 Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must:

• Treat all submissions as confidential
• Not share or discuss manuscripts outside the editorial and peer‑review process
• Not use unpublished data for personal advantage without explicit written consent from the authors

2.5 Handling Conflicts of Interest for Editors

If an editor or board member is an author of a submitted manuscript:

• They are fully recused from editorial decisions
• An independent editor manages the manuscript
• The published article will state that the editor‑author was recused

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

3.1 Confidentiality

Reviewers must:

• Treat manuscripts as confidential
• Not share, discuss, or upload the manuscript (or any part of it) to generative AI tools or non‑secure platforms
• Not use any information from the manuscript for personal advantage

3.2 Objectivity and Fairness

Reviews must be:

• Objective
• Constructive
• Evidence‑based
• Free of personal criticism

3.3 Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest (e.g., recent co‑authorship, institutional, financial, or personal relationships) and decline to review if objectivity is compromised.

3.4 Citation Manipulation

Reviewers must not suggest that authors include citations to the reviewer’s own work (or that of close associates) solely to increase citation counts. Suggestions for additional references must be based on genuine scientific relevance.

4. Responsibilities of Authors

4.1 Authorship and Contributorship

JIMPC follows the ICMJE criteria for authorship. Each author must:

1. Make substantial contributions to the conception, design, acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data
2. Draft or critically revise the manuscript for important intellectual content
3. Approve the final version to be published
4. Accept accountability for all aspects of the work

A contributorship statement (preferably using the CRediT taxonomy) is required for all original research articles. Individuals who do not meet authorship criteria (e.g., technical support, language editing, funding acquisition) should be acknowledged with their permission.

Corresponding Author Responsibilities:

The corresponding author acts as the primary contact with the journal, ensures that all authors have approved the final manuscript, confirmed the accuracy of author contributions, and remained available for post‑publication correspondence.

Changes in Authorship:

After submission, any changes to the author list (addition, removal, reordering) require:

• A written explanation signed by all authors (including those being added or removed)
• Approval by the Editor‑in‑Chief
  Disputes are handled according to COPE flowcharts.

4.2 Originality, Plagiarism, and Redundant Publication

Authors must ensure that:

• The manuscript is original and has not been published previously (except in the form of a preprint, which must be disclosed)
• The manuscript is not under consideration by another journal
• All sources are properly cited
• Any text, data, or figures taken from other sources (including the authors’ own previous work) are appropriately quoted and cited

JIMPC uses plagiarism‑detection software (iThenticate) to screen all submissions. Plagiarism in any form (including self‑plagiarism without proper citation) is unacceptable. Manuscripts containing substantial unattributed overlap may be rejected or returned for revision.

Duplicate submission and duplicate publication are not permitted. Translations of previously published work will be considered only if the original source is clearly cited and all necessary permissions have been obtained.

4.3 Data Integrity and Availability

Authors must:

• Present accurate, honest, and complete accounts of their research
• Not fabricate, falsify, or manipulate data
• Retain raw data for at least ten years after publication and provide it upon request from the editors
• Include a Data Availability Statement in the manuscript, indicating where the data supporting the findings can be accessed (e.g., in a public repository, as supplementary material, or upon reasonable request from the corresponding author)

Deposition of data in FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) repositories is strongly encouraged.

4.4 Research Ethics: Studies Involving Human Subjects

All research involving human participants, human material, human tissues, or human data must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013) and applicable national and international regulations. Authors must:

• State clearly in the manuscript the name of the ethics committee that approved the study and the approval number/ID
• Confirm that informed consent was obtained from all participants (or their legal guardians)
• For non‑interventional studies (e.g., surveys, questionnaires, social media research), describe how participants were informed and how consent was obtained. If ethical approval was waived or not required, authors must provide an exemption statement from an appropriate ethics committee or cite the local/national legislation that exempts the study.

Informed Consent for Publication:

If the manuscript contains any identifiable personal information (including images, videos, or detailed case descriptions), written informed consent for publication must be obtained from the individual (or parent/guardian for children under 18). A blank copy of the consent form should be provided upon request. Patient details must be anonymized as much as possible (e.g., no initials, specific ages, or occupations unless essential).

Vulnerable Populations:

Studies involving vulnerable groups (e.g., pregnant women, neonates, children, prisoners, individuals with cognitive impairments) must include:

• Justification for including this population
• Description of additional safeguards taken
• Compliance with CIOMS and ICMJE guidelines

Manuscripts involving vulnerable groups may undergo additional editorial scrutiny.

Clinical Trials Registration:

JIMPC follows the ICMJE requirement for prospective registration of all interventional clinical trials in a public trial registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials Register, WHO ICTRP). The trial registration number and date of registration must be included in the abstract and the Methods section. Retrospective registration is accepted only under exceptional circumstances and must be clearly explained.

Reporting Guidelines:

Authors are strongly encouraged to follow the appropriate EQUATOR Network reporting guidelines:

• CONSORT for randomized controlled trials
• STROBE for observational studies (cohort, case‑control, cross‑sectional)
• PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta‑analyses
• CARE for case reports

For randomized trials, a completed CONSORT checklist and flow diagram must be submitted with the manuscript.

4.5 Research Ethics: Studies Involving Animals

Research involving animals must adhere to the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) and comply with national and institutional regulations. Authors must:

• State the name of the ethics committee that approved the study and the approval number
• Describe housing, husbandry, and pain management measures
• Follow the ARRIVE guidelines for reporting and submit the ARRIVE checklist if requested
• If the study involved client‑owned animals, confirm that informed client consent was obtained
• If no animal ethics committee is available, provide a clear ethical justification for the work, which will be evaluated by reviewers and editors

4.6 Research Involving Cell Lines

For manuscripts using cell lines, authors must state the origin of all cell lines. For established lines, the provenance and a reference (published paper or commercial source) must be provided. For de novo cell lines (including those gifted from another laboratory), details of institutional review board or ethics committee approval must be given, and if the line is of human origin, confirmation of written informed consent must be provided.

4.7 Research Involving Plants

Experimental research on plants must comply with institutional, national, and international guidelines. Authors are encouraged to follow the Convention on Biological Diversity and CITES. For rare, threatened, or endangered species, voucher specimens should be deposited in an accessible herbarium or museum, and collection details (GPS coordinates, date) must be provided. An exemption may be granted for protected species if explained in the cover letter.

4.8 Sex and Gender in Research

Authors are encouraged to follow the SAGER (Sex and Gender Equity in Research) guidelines where relevant. The terms sex (biological attribute) and gender (socially constructed) should be used carefully, and studies should report disaggregated data by sex/gender when appropriate. If sex/gender analysis was not conducted, the rationale should be discussed.

4.9 Dual‑Use Research of Concern

Research that could pose a significant threat to public health or national security must be clearly indicated in the manuscript, and potential dual‑use concerns should be explained in the cover letter. The Editor‑in‑Chief will evaluate such manuscripts on a case‑by‑case basis.

5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automated Tools

5.1 AI Cannot Be an Author

AI systems and large language models (e.g., ChatGPT) cannot be listed as authors. Authors are fully responsible for the content of their manuscripts, including any parts generated with AI assistance.

5.2 Mandatory Disclosure

Any use of AI tools (for text generation, data analysis, image creation, etc.) must be disclosed in the manuscript, including:

• Tool name and version
• Provider
• Scope of use (e.g., literature search, drafting, editing)

5.3 Restrictions for Reviewers and Editors

Reviewers and editors must not upload manuscripts or any part of them into unsecured AI tools, as this may violate confidentiality. Any use of AI in the review process must be transparently disclosed to the editor.

6. Peer Review Process

JIMPC employs a double‑blind peer review process. Full details are described on the journal’s Peer Review Process page. In summary:

• Desk Review: All submissions are first screened for scope, originality, plagiarism, and image manipulation.
• External Review: Manuscripts that pass desk review are sent to at least two independent expert reviewers. In case of conflicting recommendations, a third reviewer may be consulted.
• Decision: The Editor‑in‑Chief (or Associate Editor‑in‑Chief) makes the final decision: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.
• Revisions: Revised manuscripts must be accompanied by a point‑by‑point response to reviewers’ comments. Late revisions may be treated as new submissions.
• Proofs: Only typographical corrections are allowed at the proof stage.

Editors and reviewers may request access to underlying data during the review process. All data provided will be treated confidentially.

7. Publication Misconduct and Handling Allegations

JIMPC takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and will investigate them in accordance with COPE flowcharts and the 2025 COPE Retraction Guidelines.

7.1 Types of Misconduct

Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism (including self‑plagiarism)
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Image manipulation (e.g., inappropriate cropping, splicing, enhancement that misleads)
• Duplicate publication
• Authorship disputes or manipulation (e.g., ghost authorship, gift authorship)
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Citation manipulation (coerced or excessive self‑citation)
• Paper mill activity
• Undisclosed use of AI

7.2 Handling Allegations

• Initial Assessment: Conducted by the Editor‑in‑Chief and uninvolved editorial board members.
• Institutional Involvement: In serious cases, the authors’ institutions or funders may be contacted.
• Protection of Whistleblowers: The confidentiality of those reporting misconduct is protected.
• Outcomes: Depending on the severity and timing of the misconduct, actions may include:
• Rejection of the manuscript (if still under review)
• Publication of an erratum or corrigendum
• Publication of an Expression of Concern
• Retraction of the article

All corrections and retractions will be clearly linked to the original article.

8. Post‑Publication Corrections and Retractions

JIMPC is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

• Erratum: A correction of a production error introduced by the journal.
• Corrigendum: A correction of an author error that does not invalidate the main conclusions.
• Retraction: Issued when findings are unreliable due to misconduct or honest error, or when the article violates ethical standards. Retracted articles remain online and are watermarked “RETRACTED,” with a statement explaining the reason.
• Expression of Concern: May be issued while an investigation is ongoing if there is a significant concern about the integrity of the work.

Corrections and retractions follow COPE guidelines.

9. Conflict of Interest and Funding Transparency

9.1 Authors

All authors must disclose any financial or non‑financial relationships that could be perceived as influencing their work. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications, and grants. If no conflicts exist, a statement to that effect must be included: “The authors declare no competing interests.”

9.2 Reviewers

Reviewers must declare conflicts and recuse themselves if necessary.

9.3 Editors

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.

9.4 Funding

All sources of financial support for the research must be clearly stated, including grant numbers. The role of the funder must be described.

10. Open Access, Copyright, and Self‑Archiving

JIMPC is a diamond open‑access journal. All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) . This permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original authors and source are properly credited. No subscription or article processing fees are charged.

Authors retain the copyright of their work and may:

• Post the final published PDF on personal or institutional websites immediately
• Use the work in teaching and theses
• Reproduce the work in derivative collections

Permissions for third‑party content included in the article are the responsibility of the authors.

11. Preprint Policy

JIMPC supports the use of preprint servers. Authors may post their manuscripts on recognized preprint servers (e.g., medRxiv, bioRxiv) prior to submission. The following conditions apply:

• The preprint DOI or link must be disclosed in the cover letter and in the manuscript.
• The preprint license must not conflict with the journal’s CC BY 4.0 license.
• Reviewers and editors will not refer to the preprint in a way that compromises double‑blind review.
• Upon publication, authors are encouraged to link the preprint to the final published article.

12. Post‑Publication Discussion and Debate

JIMPC fosters scholarly discussion after publication through:

• Letters to the Editor: Readers may submit letters commenting on published articles. Letters are reviewed and, if accepted, published alongside a response from the original authors when possible.
• Online Comments: Constructive comments on published articles are welcomed on the journal’s platform and are moderated.
• External Platforms: The journal acknowledges that debate may also occur on external moderated sites (e.g., PubPeer) and does not discourage such discussion.

Critiques that raise substantive concerns about integrity will be handled in accordance with COPE guidelines.

13. Appeals and Complaints

13.1 Appeals

Authors may appeal an editorial decision if they believe it was made in error. Appeals must:

• Be submitted within 30 days of the decision
• Include a point‑by‑point response to the reviewers’ and editors’ comments
• Be addressed to the Editor‑in‑Chief

The appeal will be reviewed by the Editor‑in‑Chief and, if necessary, an independent senior editor. The decision on appeal is final. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee reversal.

13.2 Complaints

Complaints about the journal, its staff, editorial board, or publisher should be submitted in writing to jimpc@ssu.ac.ir. The complaint should clearly describe the issue and provide supporting evidence. The journal will:

• Acknowledge receipt within 5 working days
• Investigate the matter promptly and impartially
• Provide a written response within 30 working days (or inform the complainant of any delays)

If the complainant is not satisfied with the resolution, the matter may be escalated to COPE or the relevant institutional authority.

14. Journal Metrics and ORCID

JIMPC may display article‑level metrics and citation counts. The journal does not engage in any manipulation of metrics or coercive citation practices. Use of ORCID identifiers for all authors is strongly encouraged to ensure accurate attribution