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Author Guidelines

About the Journal

The African Journal of Child Health (AFRIJOCH) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to advancing paediatric and child health knowledge across Africa. Established by the Paediatric Association of Tanzania (PAT), AFRIJOCH 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

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

Scope

AFRIJOCH welcomes original contributions across a broad range of topics in paediatrics and child health, including but not limited to:

  • Neonatal and paediatric 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
  • Paediatric surgery and emergency care
  • Health systems, workforce, and policy research
  • Community-based health interventions
  • Innovations in paediatric training and education
  • Child rights and social determinants of health

Article Types We Publish

  • Original research
  • Review articles
  • Case reports
  • Commentaries and policy briefs
  • Short communications
  • Letters to the editor
  • Study protocols

Why Publish with AFRIJOCH?

  • 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

  • Word limit: 3,000–4,000 words (excluding abstract, references, tables, and figures)
  • Structured abstract: 250–300 words (Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, Conclusion)
  • Keywords: 3–6 (preferably MeSH-compliant)
  • Sections: Title; Abstract; Introduction; Methods (study design, setting, participants, data tools, ethics, statistics); Results; Discussion (key findings, comparison with literature, limitations, implications); Conclusion; References (Vancouver style)
  • Reporting checklists (CONSORT / STROBE / PRISMA / COREQ) must be included where applicable

2. Case Reports

  • Word limit: 1,500–2,000 words
  • Structured abstract: 150–200 words
  • Follows the CARE checklist
  • Sections: Title; Abstract; Introduction; Case Presentation (demographics, symptoms, diagnosis, intervention, outcome); Discussion; Patient Consent (written informed consent required); References (up to 20)

3. Review Articles

  • Word limit: 4,000–6,000 words
  • Structured abstract: 250–300 words
  • 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

  • Word limit: 1,200–1,500 words; unstructured abstract up to 150 words
  • Sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion; max 2 tables/figures; up to 20 references

5. Editorials

  • Word limit: 1,000–1,200 words; by invitation only; no abstract; max 10 references

6. Letters to the Editor

  • Up to 750 words; no abstract or subheadings; max 5 references; max 1 figure/table

7. Commentaries / Perspectives

  • Word limit: 1,500–2,000 words; expert opinion, reflections, regional paediatric themes; no abstract; up to 25 references

8. Clinical Practice Guidelines / Protocols

  • Word limit: 3,000–5,000 words; structured abstract 250 words
  • 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 Paediatrics

  • Up to 500 words; 1–2 high-resolution images with captions; concise description and teaching point; patient consent mandatory; no abstract; max 5 references

Note: 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
  • Submitted in English, using British spelling
  • SI units must be used; all special characters embedded in the text
  • No page breaks in the manuscript
  • Main text separated using appropriate headings (BOLD CAPS) and subheadings (bold lowercase)
  • Tables in Word format, placed where first cited, and numbered sequentially
  • Acronyms and abbreviations used sparingly and fully explained at first mention
  • Generic drug names used whenever possible
  • References 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)

The title page must be uploaded as a separate file (see file type “Title Page / Cover Page”) to support anonymous peer review. The main manuscript should not contain author-identifying information.

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: rationale, aims, and literature background
  2. Methods: study aim, design, setting, participants, materials, statistical analysis, and ethics approval
  3. Results: findings, including statistical analysis as appropriate
  4. Discussion: discuss findings, compare with existing literature, and outline limitations
  5. Conclusions: main takeaways, strengths/limitations, and future implications

Tables and Figures

  • Max 5 tables and 8 figures per article; additional items as Multimedia Appendices
  • Tables within margins, 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, …) for figure parts; lettering lower-case with only the first letter capitalized
  • Correct SI unit formatting and spacing (e.g., 3 ms, 1,000); define unusual abbreviations; use scale bars instead of magnification factors

Conflict of Interest

Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest. If none, include: “The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.”

Funding Statement

All financial support must be disclosed, including agency names and grant numbers. If none, include: “This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.”

Declaration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

Any use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly) must be disclosed, stating the name and version, function, and extent of human oversight. Example: “The authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI, March 2024 version) to assist in editing the language of the initial manuscript draft. All scientific content was reviewed and validated by the authors.” AI tools may not be credited as authors. Unacceptable uses include writing entire sections without human input, creating hypotheses or results without human review, listing AI tools as authors, including AI-generated references, and failing to disclose significant AI use.

References

  • Follow Vancouver style; numerical, in square brackets; one reference per number
  • Include only published/accepted work or valid preprints/datasets
  • Do not include grant details or acknowledgements in the 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 institutional approval, compliance with relevant regulations, and informed consent from participants/guardians

Author Contact Information

  • Corresponding author: full name, affiliation, postal address, phone number, and email
  • Co-authors: full names, affiliations, and emails

Open Access Policy

AFRIJOCH 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.

Submission Preparation Checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to confirm that their submission complies with all of the following items. Submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines may be returned to authors.

  • This submission meets the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines, including the word limit and structure for the selected article type.
  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • The manuscript file is in Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf), double-spaced, with continuous line and page numbering, and uses British spelling.
  • A separate Title Page / Cover Page has been prepared with the full title, all authors’ names and affiliations, and the corresponding author’s email; the main manuscript is anonymised for peer review.
  • The abstract and keywords follow the format required for the selected article type (3–10 keywords, preferably MeSH-compliant).
  • All references follow Vancouver style, are cited numerically in superscript, and have been checked for accuracy and completeness.
  • All tables and figures are numbered, labelled, provided in editable format, and placed where first cited (max 5 tables and 8 figures).
  • Where applicable, the relevant reporting checklist (CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA, CARE or COREQ) has been completed and attached.
  • Ethical requirements are met: institutional/ethics approval, and written informed consent for participants/guardians and for any identifiable images or data, have been obtained and can be provided.
  • Conflict of interest, funding, data availability, and any AI-use declarations are included in the manuscript.
  • Permission has been obtained to publish all photos, datasets and other material provided with this submission.

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