Author Guidelines

 
 
Submission Guide

Author Guidelines

Everything you need to prepare, format, and submit your manuscript to the International Journal of Data, Health and Development Studies (IJDHDS).

Thank you for considering IJDHDS for your research. These guidelines will help you prepare a manuscript that meets our editorial and formatting standards, ensuring a smooth and efficient review process. Please read them carefully before submitting. Manuscripts that do not follow these guidelines may be returned without review.

Before You Submit

Confirm the following before you begin your submission. Manuscripts that fail these checks may be returned without review.

Original Work
The manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration elsewhere.
Author Approval
All co-authors have reviewed and approved the manuscript for submission.
Ethics Approval
Ethics approval and/or informed consent is documented where required.
Formatting
The manuscript follows the structure and formatting requirements below.
References
All references are complete, accurate, and formatted in APA 7th edition.
English Quality
The manuscript is written in clear, grammatical English.

Manuscript Types

IJDHDS publishes the following categories of manuscripts. Word counts exclude abstract, references, tables, and figures.

Original Research
Up to 8,000 words ยท 40 references
Empirical studies using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods.
Systematic Review
Up to 10,000 words ยท 80 references
PRISMA-compliant reviews and meta-analyses.
Brief Report
Up to 3,000 words ยท 20 references
Concise reports of novel findings or methodological innovations.
Case Report
Up to 2,500 words ยท 15 references
Clinical or field cases with clear teaching value.
Commentary / Perspective
Up to 2,000 words ยท 15 references
Opinion pieces on current issues in data, health, and development.
Editorial
Up to 1,500 words ยท 10 references
Invited or commissioned editorials by the Editorial Board.

Manuscript Structure

Original research manuscripts should follow the standard IMRaD structure. Each section must begin on a new line with a bold heading.

01
Title Page
Title (max 20 words), author names, affiliations, ORCID iDs, and corresponding author details.
02
Abstract
Structured (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion) or unstructured, 200โ€“300 words. Include 4โ€“6 keywords.
03
Introduction
Background, rationale, research gap, and clearly stated objectives or hypotheses.
04
Materials and Methods
Study design, setting, participants, data collection, variables, and statistical analysis. Include ethics approval.
05
Results
Findings presented in a logical order, with tables and figures referenced in the text.
06
Discussion
Interpretation, comparison with existing literature, implications, and limitations.
07
Conclusion
Concise summary of key findings and recommendations.
08
Acknowledgements, Funding, Conflicts of Interest
Declare all funding sources, contributions, and competing interests.
09
References
APA 7th edition style. See the Reference Style section below.

Formatting Requirements

File Format
Microsoft Word (.docx) or LaTeX
Font
Times New Roman, 12 pt
Spacing
1.5 line spacing
Margins
2.5 cm on all sides
Page Numbers
Bottom center, continuous
Line Numbers
Continuous throughout
Headings
Bold, numbered (1, 1.1, 1.1.1)
Abbreviations
Spelled out at first mention

Reference Style

IJDHDS uses the APA 7th edition reference style. References should be listed alphabetically by author surname and cited in-text as (Author, Year).

Journal Article
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxx
Book
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book (Edition). Publisher.
Book Chapter
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the chapter. In B. B. Editor (Ed.), Title of the book (pp. xxโ€“xx). Publisher.
Website / Report
Author or Organisation. (Year, Month Day). Title of the page. Site Name. URL

Figures & Tables

Figures
  • - Submit as separate files (TIFF, EPS, or high-res PNG)
  • - Minimum 300 DPI (line art 600 DPI)
  • - Numbered consecutively (Figure 1, Figure 2)
  • - Caption below each figure
  • - Cite in text as (Figure 1)
Tables
  • - Editable Word tables (not images)
  • - Numbered consecutively (Table 1, Table 2)
  • - Title above each table
  • - Cite in text as (Table 1)
  • - Include units and definitions

Ethics & Consent

IJDHDS adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Authors must ensure their research complies with the following requirements.

Ethics Approval
All studies involving human or animal subjects must have approval from a recognised ethics committee. Provide the name of the committee and approval number.
Informed Consent
Written informed consent must be obtained from all human participants (or guardians). State this in the Methods section.
Plagiarism
All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, will result in rejection.
Data Availability
Authors are encouraged to share de-identified datasets and code in a public repository and provide a Data Availability Statement.
Use of AI Tools
AI tools may be used only for language improvement. AI cannot be listed as an author. Disclose all AI use in the Methods or Acknowledgements.

Authorship

IJDHDS follows the ICMJE authorship criteria. To qualify as an author, each person must have:

1
Made substantial contributions to conception, design, data collection, or analysis.
2
Drafted or critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content.
3
Approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
4
Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

All authors must have an ORCID iD. The corresponding author is responsible for communicating with the journal and ensuring all co-authors are informed.

Submission Process

All submissions are made through the IJDHDS online submission system.

01
Register / Log In
Create an account or log in to the OJS submission system.
02
Start Submission
Click "New Submission" and follow the 5-step wizard.
03
Upload Files
Upload the main manuscript, figures, tables, and supplementary files.
04
Enter Metadata
Provide title, abstract, keywords, authors, and funding information.
05
Confirm & Submit
Review, confirm, and submit. You will receive email confirmation.

Peer Review Process

IJDHDS uses a double-blind peer review process. The identities of both authors and reviewers are kept confidential.

Step
1
Editorial Screening
Within 3 days, the Editor checks scope, formatting, and completeness. Unsuitable manuscripts are desk-rejected.
Step
2
Assign Reviewers
Two or more independent experts are invited. They typically have 21 days to return their reports.
Step
3
First Decision
Within 4โ€“6 weeks, authors receive one of: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.
Step
4
Revision & Re-review
Authors submit a revised manuscript along with a point-by-point response to reviewers.
Step
5
Final Decision
Acceptance is decided by the Editor-in-Chief based on reviewer recommendations.

Fees & Waivers

IJDHDS charges no submission fee. Article Processing Charges (APCs) apply only upon acceptance.

Article Processing Charge (APC)
USD 150
Payable only after acceptance. Covers DOI registration, typesetting, hosting, and indexing.
Waivers Available
  • - 100% waiver for low-income countries
  • - 50% waiver for lower-middle-income countries
  • - Case-by-case consideration
How to Request a Waiver
Email editor@ijdhds.org with subject "APC Waiver Request" after submitting your manuscript. Include your affiliation and country.

After Acceptance

Once your manuscript is accepted, it moves through the production pipeline.

Copyediting & Typesetting
The production team formats the article to journal style. You will receive proofs for review.
APC Payment
Payment instructions are sent upon acceptance. Waiver requests must be confirmed before typesetting.
DOI & Publication
A DOI is assigned via Crossref. The article becomes immediately available online.
Indexing
Your article is submitted to Crossref, DOAJ, Google Scholar, Scopus, and AJOL.
 

Download Templates & Forms

Use these templates to ensure your manuscript meets our formatting requirements.

Questions About Submission?

Contact the editorial office. We usually respond within 2 business days.

Ready to Submit Your Manuscript?

Submit through our online system. You will receive a confirmation email immediately.

Start Submission โ†’