1. Policy Statement

The Journal of Maternal and Child Health Sciences (JMCHS) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that errors, inaccuracies, or ethical concerns may be identified after an article has been published.

JMCHS has established this Correction and Retraction Policy to ensure that published articles remain scientifically reliable and that any necessary changes are handled fairly, transparently, and consistently.

This policy applies to all articles published in JMCHS, including original research articles, review articles, case reports, and other scholarly contributions concerning midwifery, maternal and child health, reproductive health, neonatal care, and women's health.

The journal follows the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

2. Corrections

Corrections are issued when errors are identified in published articles but the principal research findings and conclusions remain valid.

JMCHS may publish a correction when an error affects the accuracy, clarity, or interpretation of the published article without fundamentally undermining its scientific reliability.

Corrections may include:

• Errors in numerical data, statistical calculations, tables, or figures.
• Inaccuracies in methodological descriptions.
• Errors in author information, affiliations, or acknowledgments requiring formal clarification.
• Incorrect references or citations that materially affect the interpretation of the article.
• Errors in clinical or scientific terminology.
• Other significant inaccuracies that do not invalidate the overall findings.

Corrections may be classified as:

1. Erratum

An erratum is issued to correct an error introduced during the editorial, production, or publication process.

1. Corrigendum

A corrigendum is issued to correct an error originating from the authors that does not invalidate the principal findings or conclusions.

When a correction is required, JMCHS will publish an appropriate notice identifying the original article, explaining the correction, and indicating its publication date.

Correction notices will be electronically linked to the original article wherever technically possible.

Minor typographical or formatting errors that do not affect scientific meaning may be corrected without issuing a separate formal notice, provided that the integrity of the publication record is maintained.

3. Retractions

A retraction is issued when a published article contains serious scientific errors, unreliable findings, or substantial ethical violations that compromise the validity or integrity of the publication.

The primary purpose of retraction is to correct the scholarly literature and protect the reliability of scientific knowledge, rather than to punish the authors.

JMCHS may consider retracting an article under the following circumstances:

1. Clear evidence indicates that the findings are unreliable because of major methodological errors, data fabrication, falsification, or other s