All research articles submitted to the Sudan Journal of Health Sciences undergo editorial screening followed by double-blind peer review, with at least two subject-matter specialists.
Stages of Review
- Editorial screening. Each submission is first evaluated by an editor to confirm alignment with the journal’s aims and scope, and to check compliance with the Author Guidelines. The author is informed of the outcome within one working week.
- Double-blind peer review. Manuscripts passing initial screening are sent to at least two assigned reviewers who are specialists in the subject area. Reviewer and author identities are withheld from one another. Reviews typically take two to four weeks.
- Revision. Reviewers’ comments are forwarded to the corresponding author, who amends the manuscript and resubmits it together with a point-by-point response to each comment.
- Final decision. The revised version is reassessed by the editor, and where necessary returned to the reviewers. Once finally accepted, the manuscript is sent to the author for approval in an official, signed form.
- Publication. The accepted article is copy-edited, typeset, assigned a DOI and published in the next available issue. The author receives an electronic copy of the issue on publication.
Originality and Integrity
Manuscripts are checked for originality. Plagiarism, data fabrication and redundant publication are grounds for rejection. Authors must disclose all sources of funding and any potential conflicts of interest. See Publication Ethics.
Editorial Independence
Editorial decisions are based solely on the scientific quality, originality and relevance of the work, and are independent of the authors’ institution, nationality, seniority or ability to pay. Editors who have a conflict of interest with a submission are excluded from handling it.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers are expected to treat manuscripts as confidential documents, to declare any conflict of interest before accepting an assignment, to provide constructive and evidence-based comments, and to alert the editor to any suspicion of plagiarism or ethical breach.
Appeals
Authors who believe a decision was based on a factual error or a misunderstanding may appeal by writing to the editorial office at sjhs@fajr.edu.sd, setting out the specific points in dispute. Appeals are considered by the Editor-in-Chief, whose decision is final.