Policy Statement

The Journal of Maternal and Child Health Sciences (JMCHS) recognizes that scholarly communication continues beyond the publication of an article. Post-publication discussion provides opportunities for researchers, midwives, healthcare professionals, educators, and readers to critically evaluate published findings, exchange scientific perspectives, and contribute to the development of evidence-based maternal and child healthcare.

JMCHS encourages constructive academic discussion concerning published articles, particularly those addressing midwifery practice, maternal and neonatal health, reproductive health, breastfeeding, family planning, women's health, and community-based maternal and child healthcare.

The journal is committed to maintaining an open, respectful, and scientifically responsible environment for post-publication discussion in accordance with the principles of publication ethics established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

2. Objectives of Post-Publication Discussion

Post-publication discussion aims to:

1. Encourage scientific dialogue concerning research findings published in JMCHS.
2. Facilitate critical evaluation of research methodology, data interpretation, and clinical implications.
3. Provide opportunities for readers to raise questions, offer alternative interpretations, or present additional scientific evidence.
4. Promote transparency, accountability, and research integrity in midwifery and maternal and child health research.
5. Identify potential errors or ethical concerns that may require editorial assessment.
6. Support the appropriate interpretation and application of research findings in healthcare practice.

3. Forms of Post-Publication Discussion

JMCHS welcomes post-publication contributions through the following mechanisms:

1. Letters to the Editor

Readers may submit Letters to the Editor presenting scholarly comments, questions, or critical evaluations of articles previously published in JMCHS.

Letters should clearly identify the article being discussed and provide scientifically supported arguments, relevant references, and constructive recommendations where appropriate.

1. Author Responses

Authors of published articles may be invited to respond to questions, comments, or substantive criticisms raised by readers.

Responses should directly address the issues identified and provide supporting explanations, methodological clarification, or additional evidence when necessary.

1. Scholarly Commentary

JMCHS may consider scholarly commentaries that discuss the implications of published research for midwifery practice, maternal and child health services, healthcare education, or public health policy.

1. Corrections and Editorial Notices

When post-publication discussions identify factual errors, methodological concerns, or potential ethical issues, the editorial team may initiate an assessment under the journal's correction, expression of concern, or retraction policies.

4. Submission of Post-Publication Comments

Readers who wish to comment on a published article may submit their correspondence through the journal's official communication channel or the manuscript submission system, where applicable.

Submissions should include:

• The full name and institutional affiliation of the corresponding author.
• The title, author names, publication year, and DOI or URL of the article being discussed.
• A clear description of the issue, question, or scientific concern.
• Supporting references or relevant evidence.
• A declaration of potential conflicts of interest.
• Contact information for editorial correspondence.

Comments should be written in a professional academic manner and should focus on scientific evidence rather than personal criticism.

5. Editorial Evaluation and Moderation

All post-publication submissions are subject to initial evaluation by the JMCHS editorial team.

The editorial assessment considers the relevance of the discussion, scientific validity of the arguments, supporting evidence, ethical considerations, and potential contribution to scholarly understanding.

JMCHS reserves the right to request revisions or decline submissions containing:

• Personal attacks, discriminatory statements, or offensive language.
• Unsupported allegations or misleading scientific claims.
• Irrelevant or repetitive arguments.
• Confidential patient information disclosed without appropriate authorization.
• Defamatory statements or inappropriate accusations against authors, reviewers, or institutions.
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest that materially affect the integrity of the discussion.

Where necessary, the editorial team may request independent expert assessment of scientific or methodological issues raised after publication.

Editorial decisions should be impartial and based on the scientific merits of the correspondence.

6. Authors' Right to Respond

Authors whose published articles become the subject of substantive post-publication criticism will ordinarily be offered an opportunity to respond.

The editorial team may forward relevant comments to the corresponding author and request clarification, supporting evidence, or a formal written response.

Authors are expected to address legitimate scientific concerns responsibly and cooperate with reasonable requests for information related to their published research.

The journal may publish the original correspondence and the authors' response together or separately, depending on the nature of the discussion and the editorial decision.

A lack of response from the authors does not automatically invalidate the published article. However, unresolved concerns affecting the reliability or integrity of the work may require further editorial investigation.

7. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

If a post-publication discussion identifies a possible error or concern regarding a published article, JMCHS will evaluate the matter according to the nature and seriousness of the issue.

1. Corrections

A correction may be published when an article contains factual, analytical, or reporting errors that require clarification but do not invalidate its principal findings and conclusions.

1. Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be issued when substantial questions arise regarding the reliability or integrity of an article and an investigation is ongoing or available evidence remains inconclusive.

1. Retractions

A retraction may be considered when findings are unreliable due to major errors, research misconduct, or other serious problems that invalidate the scientific conclusions.

Editorial actions will be determined through appropriate assessment and documented in accordance with relevant publication ethics guidance.

When correction or retraction notices are published, they should be clearly identified and linked to the original article to preserve the transparency and integrity of the scholarly record.

8. Ethical Considerations and Confidentiality

All participants in post-publication discussions must adhere to responsible scholarly communication and publication ethics.

Discussions involving maternal, neonatal, or reproductive health research must respect patient confidentiality, privacy, and applicable ethical requirements.

Personal health information, identifiable clinical details, or confidential research data must not be disclosed without appropriate authorization or consent.

Individuals raising concerns about possible research misconduct should provide relevant evidence through confidential editorial communication rather than making unsupported public accusations.

Where appropriate, JMCHS may refer serious allegations to the relevant institutions or research ethics committees for further investigation.

9. Transparency and Accessibility

JMCHS supports the public availability of accepted scholarly discussions and editorial responses when publication is appropriate.

Published correspondence should be clearly associated with the article being discussed, allowing readers to understand the relationship between the original research, subsequent scientific comments, and author responses.

Any correction, expression of concern, or retraction should be presented transparently and linked to the relevant publication.

The editorial team is responsible for ensuring that published discussions contribute meaningfully to scientific communication while maintaining appropriate ethical and editorial standards.

10. Editorial Responsibility

The Editor-in-Chief and editorial board of JMCHS are responsible for overseeing the post-publication discussion process.

The editorial team will assess submitted comments, determine the need for author responses, consult independent experts where necessary, and make editorial decisions based on available evidence.

JMCHS is committed to providing a fair opportunity for scholarly discussion while protecting the integrity of published research and the rights of all parties involved.

11. Reference Guidelines

This policy is informed by internationally recognized recommendations and guidelines, including:

1. Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Core Practices. https://publicationethics.org/core-practices
2. Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Retraction Guidelines. https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.4
3. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals. https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/