Submissions

Author Guidelines

About the Journal

The AfricanJ our nalofC hildH ealth(AJCH)is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal

dedicated to advancing pediatric and child health knowledge across Africa. Established

by the Paediatric Association of Tanzania (PAT), AJCH serves as a scholarly platform

for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and public health experts committed to

improving health outcomes for children and adolescents in Africa and beyond.

Aim of the Journal

AJCH aims to foster the dissemination of high-impact, contextually relevant research

that addresses the unique healthcare challenges affecting children and adolescents

worldwide. The journal seeks to promote innovation, equity, and excellence in pediatric

healthcare delivery, education, and policy-making across diverse settings.

Scope

AJCH welcomes original contributions that span a broad range of topics in pediatrics

and child health, including but not limited to:

 Neonatal and pediatric clinical care

 Adolescent health and youth-friendly services

 Communicable and non-communicable diseases

 Maternal and child health integration

 Nutrition and food safety

 Child growth, development, education, and environmental health

 Immunization and vaccine implementation

 Mental health and psychosocial well-being

 Pediatric surgery and emergency care

 Health systems, workforce, and policy research

 Community-based health interventions

 Innovations in pediatric training and education

 Child rights and social determinants of health

We publish a variety of article types, including:

 Original research

 Review articles

 Case reports

 Commentaries and policy briefs

 Short communications

 Letters to the editor

 Study protocolsWhy Publish with AJCH?

 Open access and wide regional reach

 Rapid and rigorous peer-review process

 Opportunities for early-career researchers and regional collaborations

 Contribution to child health policies and systems in Africa

Manuscript Categories and Specific Guidelines

1. Original Research Articles

o Word Limit: 3,000–4,000 words (excluding abstract, references, tables,

and figures)

o Structured Abstract: 250–300 words (Background, Objectives, Methods,

Results, Conclusion)

o Keywords: 3–6 (preferably MeSH-compliant)

o Sections:

 Title

 Abstract

 Introduction

 Methods: Study design, setting, participants, data tools, ethics,

statistics

 Results

 Discussion: Key findings, comparison with literature, limitations,

implications

 Conclusion

 References (APA or Vancouver style, as per journal policy)

o Checklists: CONSORT/STROBE/PRISMA/COREQ must be included where

applicable

2. Case Reports

o Word Limit: 1,500–2,000 words

o Structured Abstract: 150–200 words

o Guideline: Follows CARE checklist

o Sections:

 Title

 Abstract

 Introduction

 Case Presentation: Demographics, symptoms, diagnosis,

intervention, outcome

 Discussion

 Patient Consent: Written informed consent required

 References: Up to 20 approximately

3. Review Articles

o Word Limit: 4,000–6,000 words

o Structured Abstract: 250–300 words

o Sections:

 Title Abstract

 Introduction

 Methods (for systematic reviews): Search, inclusion/exclusion,

extraction, bias

 Discussion

 Conclusion

 PRISMA flow diagram (systematic reviews)

 References: Up to 100

4. Short Communications / Brief Reports

o Word Limit: 1,200–1,500 words

o Unstructured Abstract: Up to 150 words

o Sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion

o Tables/Figures: Max 2

o References: Up to 20

5. Editorials

o Word Limit: 1,000–1,200 words

o By invitation only

o No Abstract

o References: Max 10

6. Letters to the Editor

o Word Limit: Up to 750 words

o No Abstract or Subheadings

o References: Max 5

o Figures/Tables: Max 1

7. Commentaries / Perspectives

o Word Limit: 1,500–2,000 words

o Focus: Expert opinion, reflections, regional pediatric themes

o No Abstract

o References: Up to 25

8. Clinical Practice Guidelines / Protocols

o Word Limit: 3,000–5,000 words

o Structured Abstract: 250 words

o Sections:

 Background and Rationale

 Methods of Guideline Development

 Recommendations (bullet format)

 Implementation Notes (especially for low-resource settings)

 References: As appropriate

9. Visual Vignettes / Images in Pediatrics

o Word Limit: Up to 500 words

o Images: 1–2 high-resolution with captions

o Text: Concise description and teaching point

o Patient Consent: Mandatory

o No Abstract

o References: Max 5N ote:All manuscripts must adhere to ethical publication standards, including conflict of

interest declarations, data availability statements, and, where applicable, patient

consent and institutional review board approval.

Manuscript Formatting

 Double line spacing

 Continuous line and page numbering

 Manuscripts must be submitted in English, using British spelling

 SI units must be used; all special characters should be embedded in the text

 No page breaks in the manuscript

 Main text separated using appropriate headings (BOLD CAPS) and subheadings

(bold lowercase)

 Tables should be in Word format, placed where first cited, and numbered

sequentially

 Acronyms and abbreviations should be used sparingly and fully explained at first

mention

 Generic names for drugs should be used whenever possible

 References must be cited in superscript and numerical order (not in the abstract)

File Formats

 Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx)

 Rich Text Format (.rtf)

Title Page Requirements

 A clear title indicating study design if applicable (e.g., randomized controlled trial,

case control study, systematic review, case report)

 Full names and institutional affiliations of all authors

 Corresponding author details (email address required)

Keywords

 Three to ten keywords reflecting the article content

Abstract

 Original Research: Max 350 words, structured (Background, Methods, Results,

Conclusion, Trial Registration)

 Case Reports: Max 250 words, structured (Background, Case Presentation,

Conclusion)

Main Document Sections

1. Background: Describe the rationale, aims, and literature background2. 3. 4. 5. Methods: Include study aim, design, setting, participants, materials, statistical

analysis, and ethics approval

Results: Present findings, including statistical analysis as appropriate

Discussion: Discuss findings, compare with existing literature, and outline

limitations

Conclusions: Highlight main takeaways, strengths/limitations, and future

implications

Tables and Figures

 Max 5 tables and 8 figures per article

 Additional items can be included as Multimedia Appendices

 Tables should be within margins and in 12pt font

 Figures must include a title and brief description

 Legends: Max 350 words, listed after references

 Editable formats required (Word or TeX/LaTeX); no image tables

 State the source of images/software (name, version, URL)

 Use lower-case letters (a, b, c, etc.) for figure parts

 Lettering: Lower-case with only the first letter capitalized

 SI unit formatting and spacing must be correct (e.g., 3 ms, 1,000)

 Unusual abbreviations must be defined

 Scale bars must be used instead of magnification factors

Conflict of Interest

Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest. If none, include: “ T h eauth ors

d eclar ethatth eyhavenoconflictsofi nter est.”

Funding Statement

All financial support must be disclosed, including agency names and grant numbers. If

none, include: “ T hisr esearchr eceivednospecificgrantfr omanyfundi ngag encyi nth e

public, commercial,ornot-f or-pr ofitsectors.”

Declaration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

Any use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly) must be disclosed. Include:

 Name and version

 Function

 Extent of human oversight

Example:“ T h eauth orsusedC hatGPT(OpenAI, March2024versi on)toassisti nediti ng

th elanguag eofth ei nitialmanuscriptdraft.Allsci entificcontentwasr evi ewedand

validatedb yth eauth ors.”

AItoolsmaynotb ecr editedasauth ors.

Unacceptable AI uses: Writing entire sections without human input

 Creating hypotheses or results without human review

 Listing AI tools as authors

 Including AI-generated references

 Failing to disclose significant AI use

References

 Follow Vancouver style

 Numerical, square brackets

 One reference per number

 Include only published/accepted work or valid preprints/datasets

 Do not include grant details or acknowledgements in reference list

Ethical Considerations

 Remove personally identifiable information

 Blurring facial features is not sufficient anonymization

 Consent required for identifiable images/data

 Human/clinical trial studies must include:

o Institutional approval

o Compliance with relevant regulations

o Informed consent from participants/guardians

Author Contact Information

 Title page must include:

o Corresponding author: Full name, affiliation, postal address, phone

number, and email

o Co-authors: Full names, affiliations, and emails

Open Access Policy

AJCH follows a Gold Open Access model—articles are freely accessible upon

publication.

Author Charges

Article Processing Charges (APCs) are currently waived during the journal's initial

development phase. This may change as the journal evolves.

Copyright

Authors retain copyright under a Creative Commons (CC BY) license, allowing free use

and redistribution with proper attribution. The journal retains a license to publish and

distribute submitted work.