The American Journal of Obstetric and Maternal Nursing (AJOMN) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards in publishing. We ensure that all published work is accurate, ethical, and contributes significantly to the field of obstetric and maternal nursing. The following policies guide our publication process.

1. Peer Review Process

• Double-Blind Review: All submissions undergo a double-blind peer review, where both the reviewers and authors remain anonymous to each other. This process ensures unbiased and objective evaluations of the submitted manuscripts.
• Reviewer Selection: Manuscripts are reviewed by experts in the relevant field who assess the quality, validity, and relevance of the research.
• Decision Making: Based on the reviewers’ comments, the editorial board decides whether to accept, revise, or reject the manuscript. Authors will be informed of the decision along with constructive feedback.

2. Ethical Standards

• Authorship: All listed authors must have made significant contributions to the research and manuscript preparation. Authors must also disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
• Plagiarism: AJOMN has a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. All submissions are checked for originality using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts that fail to meet our originality criteria will be rejected.
• Human and Animal Rights: Research involving human subjects must comply with ethical standards, including obtaining informed consent and ethical approval. Similarly, studies involving animals must adhere to ethical guidelines for animal welfare.

3. Open Access Policy

• Accessibility: AJOMN offers an open-access publishing option, allowing authors to make their articles freely available to the public. This ensures that the research can be accessed and cited by a global audience.
• Article Processing Charges (APC): Authors who choose the open-access option may be required to pay an article processing charge. The APC covers the costs associated with peer review, editing, and hosting the article online.

4. Copyright and Licensing

• Copyright Transfer: Upon acceptance, authors are required to transfer copyright to AJOMN. This allows the journal to distribute the work while protecting the author’s intellectual property.
• Licensing: Articles published under the open-access option are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License, allowing others to share and adapt the work with proper attribution.

5. Retraction and Corrections

• Retractions: AJOMN reserves the right to retract published articles in cases of serious errors, ethical breaches, or scientific misconduct. Retractions will be clearly marked and linked to the original article.
• Corrections: If errors are identified in a published article, corrections will be made and noted in an erratum or corrigendum linked to the original article.

6. Data Sharing and Transparency

• Data Availability: Authors are encouraged to make their data available to readers by providing access to datasets in a public repository or upon request. Transparency in data sharing enhances the reproducibility of research.
• Supplementary Materials: Authors may submit supplementary materials, such as datasets, video content, or additional figures, which will be published alongside the article.

7. Appeals and Complaints

• Complaints: Any complaints regarding the editorial process, publication ethics, or journal policies can be directed to the editorial office. Complaints will be handled in accordance with COPE guidelines.
• Appeal Process: Authors who disagree with the editorial decision may submit a formal appeal. The appeal will be reviewed by an independent editor or reviewer, and the final decision will be communicated to the author.

For questions regarding publication policies or manuscript submissions, please contact us.