Submissions

Author Guidelines

Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.

General Format for Submissions
    • Title page: Title of paper, name of the author(s), affiliation, email and telephone number of the corresponding author.
    • Abstract: Not more than 250 words
    • Keywords: Not more than 5
    • Body of the text: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Declarations, and References 
    • Word count
        ◦ Original research: Not more than 5000 words excluding references, tables and figures.
        ◦ Review articles: Literature review and systematic review articles should not exceed 6000 words excluding references
        ◦ Commentaries and innovative methodologies should not exceed 2000 words including references.
    • Tables and figures should be embedded in the text and discussed immediately after presentation. Tables should be in line with APA 7th edition guideline.
    • Declarations: Acknowledgement, funding, authors contribution, conflict of interest, and data availability should be declared.
    • References: APA 7th edition
    • Font and Size: Times New Roman, size 12
    • Line Spacing:  1.5

Core Values and Ethical Principles
Integrity is the cornerstone of APHA-IJSMH publication ethics. The journal upholds the principles of academic integrity and objectivity, requiring authors to present their research honestly, accurately, and transparently. Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or any other form of misconduct is strictly prohibited. The journal employs a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the quality and validity of published articles, and reviewers are to evaluate manuscripts objectively and maintain confidentiality. Authorship credit is based on substantial contributions, and authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. We recognize the importance of maintaining the integrity of the scientific record. If significant errors or inaccuracies are identified in published articles, the journal would facilitate the prompt correction, retraction, or clarification of the work, in accordance with established guidelines and procedures. All submissions will undergo a plagiarism check, with a maximum allowable similarity index of 15%. Furthermore, when conducting research involving human subjects, it is essential for authors to adhere to ethical guidelines to ensure the protection and well-being of participants. The APA provides ethical guidelines that researchers should follow (see: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/read-the-belmont-report/index.html#xethical ). 
Finally, editorial decisions are made independently. All manuscript should be sent with a cover letter to the Editor-in-Chief, APHA-IJSMH, Email: apha.ijsmh@apha.edu.ng on or before June 30, 2024. 

Article Processing Fee
Our research journal requires a two-part article processing fee in naira or its equivalence in other currencies. Authors are to pay a ₦5,000 (five thousand naira) non-refundable vetting fee upon submission, covering initial editorial review. Upon acceptance, there is a ₦25,000 publication fee to cover peer-review, editing, and production costs. All fees must be paid in full before accepted manuscripts are published. These charges support the ongoing publication and high standards of our research journal.