The Journal of Global Epidemiology and Health Equity (JGEHE) relies on the expertise, professionalism, and integrity of its reviewers to maintain the highest standards of scientific quality and scholarly publishing. Reviewers play a critical role in ensuring that published research is methodologically sound, ethically conducted, clearly reported, and relevant to the journal's mission of advancing epidemiologic evidence and health equity scholarship.
Purpose of Peer Review
The objective of peer review is to provide an independent, objective, and constructive assessment of submitted manuscripts. Reviewers are expected to evaluate submissions based on scientific merit, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, clarity of reporting, and relevance to epidemiology, global health, public health, and health equity.
Peer Review Model
JGEHE operates a double-anonymous peer-review process whenever feasible, in which author and reviewer identities are concealed from one another during review. Because some epidemiologic studies may be identifiable through trial registration, public datasets, protocols, preprints, or setting-specific details, anonymity will be maintained as far as reasonably possible.
Each manuscript that passes initial editorial screening is typically evaluated by at least two independent reviewers with relevant subject-matter or methodological expertise.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers are expected to:
- Conduct reviews objectively, fairly, and professionally.
- Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all submitted materials.
- Declare any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest.
- Decline review invitations when lacking appropriate expertise or when conflicts of interest exist.
- Provide constructive comments that assist authors in improving their work.
- Complete reviews within the requested timeframe whenever possible.
Reviewers should not share, distribute, discuss, or use unpublished manuscript content for personal, professional, or commercial purposes.
Evaluation Criteria
Reviewers should consider the following aspects when evaluating manuscripts:
Relevance and Scope
- Is the manuscript consistent with the aims and scope of JGEHE?
- Does the work contribute to epidemiology, population health, public health, global health, or health equity scholarship?
Originality and Significance
- Does the manuscript provide novel findings, insights, methods, or interpretations?
- Does the work contribute meaningfully to existing knowledge?
Scientific and Methodological Quality
- Are the study design and methods appropriate?
- Are statistical analyses adequately described and correctly applied?
- Are the results valid, transparent, and reproducible?
- Are limitations appropriately acknowledged?
Ethical Compliance
- Are ethical approvals and participant protections adequately reported where applicable?
- Are there any concerns regarding research integrity, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or data reliability?
Reporting Quality
- Is the manuscript clearly organized and well written?
- Are reporting standards appropriate to the study design followed?
- Are tables, figures, and supplementary materials clear and informative?
Conclusions and Interpretation
- Are the conclusions supported by the data presented?
- Are findings interpreted appropriately without overstating implications?
Reviewer Recommendations
At the conclusion of the review, reviewers may recommend one of the following outcomes:
- Accept
- Minor Revision
- Major Revision
- Reject with Resubmission Invited
- Reject
Reviewer recommendations are advisory. Final editorial decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief or designated handling editor.
Publication Ethics
JGEHE adheres to internationally recognized publication ethics standards, including guidance from COPE, ICMJE, WAME, and DOAJ.
Reviewers should immediately notify the editorial office if they identify concerns related to:
- Plagiarism
- Duplicate publication
- Data fabrication or falsification
- Ethical misconduct
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest
- Significant reporting deficiencies
Confidentiality
All manuscripts under review are confidential documents. Reviewers must not disclose manuscript content, discuss submissions with unauthorized individuals, or retain copies of manuscripts after completion of the review process.
Constructive Feedback
Reviewers are encouraged to provide clear, respectful, evidence-based, and constructive feedback. Comments should focus on improving the quality, clarity, and scientific value of the manuscript while maintaining a professional and collegial tone.
The Editorial Board of JGEHE sincerely appreciates the valuable contributions of reviewers in supporting scientific excellence, research integrity, and the advancement of epidemiologic and health equity scholarship worldwide.