Publication Etics
Publication Ethics
OVUM: Journal of Midwifery and Health Sciences is firmly committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct among all parties involved in the publication process—namely, authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher (Universitas Duta Bangsa Surakarta). The journal strives to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability at every stage of publication, and to prevent any form of misconduct or conflict of interest.
As a peer-reviewed scientific journal, OVUM adheres to the internationally recognized ethical standards set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all individuals and institutions engaged in the publication process.
Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication
Publishing scientific research in OVUM: Journal of Midwifery and Health Sciences represents an important contribution to the advancement of knowledge in midwifery and health sciences. High-quality and ethically sound publications reflect the credibility of the authors and the integrity of their affiliated institutions.
As the publisher, Universitas Duta Bangsa Surakarta is fully committed to maintaining professional and ethical standards throughout all stages of publication. Commercial factors—such as advertising, sponsorship, or reprints—do not influence editorial decisions. The Editorial Board also promotes transparency and ethical collaboration with other journals and publishers whenever appropriate.
Publication Decisions
The editors of OVUM hold full responsibility for determining which submitted manuscripts are suitable for publication, based on their scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to midwifery and health disciplines. Editorial decisions must comply with the policies of the Editorial Board and applicable legal requirements regarding libel, copyright, and plagiarism. Editors may seek advice from reviewers or other editorial board members in making publication decisions.
Fair Play
Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit, without discrimination based on the authors’ gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, or political beliefs.
Confidentiality
All submitted manuscripts are treated as strictly confidential documents. Information about a manuscript may only be disclosed to the corresponding author, potential reviewers, editorial advisers, or the publisher, as appropriate.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Editors must not use unpublished information contained in a submitted manuscript for their own research purposes without the author’s written consent. Editors should also recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.
Duties of Reviewers
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Peer review assists editors in making informed editorial decisions and helps authors improve their manuscripts through constructive, evidence-based feedback.
Promptness
Reviewers who feel unqualified to assess a manuscript or are unable to complete the review promptly should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.
Confidentiality
All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They should not be shared, discussed, or distributed without authorization from the editor.
Standards of Objectivity
Reviews should be conducted objectively and without personal criticism of the author. Reviewers are expected to express their views clearly and support them with logical reasoning and relevant evidence.
Acknowledgement of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors and notify the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and other published works.
Conflict of Interest
Information or ideas obtained through peer review must remain confidential and must not be used for personal advantage. Reviewers should not evaluate manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors or affiliated institutions.
Duties of Authors
Reporting Standards
Authors of original research must present an accurate and objective account of their work and its significance. Data underlying the research should be represented honestly and in sufficient detail to allow replication. Fabrication, falsification, or deliberate misrepresentation of data constitutes unethical behavior.
Data Access and Retention
Authors may be asked to provide the raw data underlying their manuscripts for editorial review and should be prepared to make such data publicly available if appropriate. Authors are also encouraged to retain their data for a reasonable period after publication.
Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are entirely original and that any use of others’ work is properly cited. Plagiarism in any form—including self-plagiarism—is unethical and unacceptable.
Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously or publish the same research in multiple outlets.
Acknowledgement of Sources
Proper acknowledgment of the work of others is essential. Authors should cite all publications that have significantly influenced the nature or direction of their research.
Authorship of the Paper
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All substantial contributors should be listed as co-authors, while those with more limited contributions may be acknowledged. The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication.
Author Contributions
To enhance transparency, authors are encouraged to include an Author Contribution Statement based on the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy), which may include the following roles: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, and Writing – review & editing.
Changes to Authorship
Any changes to authorship (including addition, removal, or reordering) after submission must be approved by all authors and authorized by the editor. Changes after acceptance will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.
Ethical Considerations for Human or Animal Subjects
Authors must ensure that research involving human participants complies with institutional and national ethical standards and follows the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Studies involving animals must also comply with relevant ethical standards and ensure humane treatment. Authors should state clearly in their manuscripts that informed consent was obtained from all human participants, when applicable.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could be perceived to influence their work. All sources of financial or institutional support must be acknowledged in the manuscript.
Fundamental Errors in Published Works
If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they must promptly notify the editor or publisher and cooperate in issuing a correction or retraction of the article.
Reference
This Publication Ethics Statement is adapted from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and reflects the ethical principles of scholarly publishing in midwifery and health sciences.
OVUM: Journal of Midwifery and Health Sciences
Published by Universitas Duta Bangsa Surakarta
