Instructions for Peer Reviewers

Instructions for Reviewers

SAJPH is an electronic, double-blind, peer-reviewed Research Journal published by the Department of Public Health, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

Peer reviewers play a major role in maintaining the journal's scientific quality/rigor and ethical integrity. The following instructions provide detailed guidance for reviewers invited to evaluate manuscripts submitted to South Asian Journal of Public Health (SAJPH).

Roles/ Responsibilities of the Peer Reviewers are as under:

• Reviewers act as independent advisors to editors and provide objective, unbiased and constructive assessments of the submitted manuscripts within their areas of expertise.
• Help the editorial team to reach fair decisions by providing recommendations but do not make final publication decisions.
• Maintain the confidentiality of the literature they receive for review throughout the peer review process until publication.
• Refrain from disclosing their identity to the authors and other reviewers until after the review process is completed.
• Provide views about the originality, scientific and methodological quality, significance, adequacy of documentation, reader interest and presentation of the content according to the format available on the website of the journal (Download Manuscript Review Guidelines ).
• Highlight whether the objectives are achieved through the data. If not, what further evidence is needed?
• Critically analyze the literature cited for relevance, accuracy and up to data references from five years preceding the manuscript submission while considering historical references where appropriate.
• Highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript.
• Provide suggestions to the authors about the areas which need improvement and what he/she can amend or enhance to improve the quality of the manuscript.
• If the reviewer considers that a manuscript does not meet the standards of publication, explain the reasons for rejection and how you arrived to the said conclusion.
• Reviewers must declare any potential conflicts of interest (personal or professional relationships with authors, financial or institutional interests related to the manuscript and direct competition) before accepting a review. The journal expects the reviewers to decline the review invitation if any conflict exists.
• Finish the review and submit the evaluation report within the stipulated timeframe. If an extension is required and you cannot review the manuscript, inform the editorial office at sajph@pu.edu.pk on time.
• Independently prepare review reports based on scholarly judgement and refrain from using artificial intelligence assisted (AI) tools to write scientific evaluation reports.

If reviewers agree to these roles and responsibilities and are willing to contribute voluntarily, they may be required to sign the consent form, acknowledging their responsibilities and commitment to maintain confidentiality and integrity of the review process.

Recognition of Reviewers

SAJPH values the voluntary efforts of reviewers. Although reviews are anonymous, the journal may provide personalized recognition certificates for your contributions annually.