International Journal of Global Health

Instructions for Authors

Comprehensive guidelines for preparing and submitting your global health research to IJGH.

Your Roadmap to Publication

This guide covers everything you need to know to prepare a high-quality submission for the International Journal of Global Health. Following these instructions will expedite the review process and maximize your chance of acceptance.

Journal at a Glance

ISSN: 2693-1176 | DOI prefix: 10.14302/issn.2693-1176 | License: CC BY 4.0 | Open access publishing

Review Timeline

Single-blind peer review with typical editorial decisions in 2-4 weeks for complete submissions.

Open Access Rights

CC BY 4.0 licensing ensures immediate access and reuse with proper attribution.

Permanent DOI

Each accepted article receives a CrossRef DOI for stable indexing and citation tracking.

Global Reach

Research is discoverable by policymakers, practitioners, and global health researchers worldwide.

Manuscript Types

IJGH publishes the following manuscript categories:

Category	Word Limit	Abstract	Figures/Tables	References
Original Research	3,000-6,000	300 words (structured)	Up to 8	Up to 50
Review Article	4,000-8,000	300 words (structured)	Up to 10	Up to 100
Policy Analysis	3,000-5,000	250 words (unstructured)	Up to 6	Up to 40
Field Report	2,000-3,500	200 words (unstructured)	Up to 5	Up to 25
Commentary	1,500-2,500	150 words	Up to 2	Up to 20

Requests for Length Exceptions

The word limits above are intended to support clarity and an efficient peer-review process. If your manuscript exceeds these limits and reducing it would compromise the scientific meaning or completeness of the work, please contact the Editorial Office at [email protected] prior to submission to request guidance on a suitable exception.

Manuscript Structure

Original research articles should follow this structured format:

Title Page: Title, authors, affiliations, corresponding author contact, word count, keywords
Abstract: Structured with Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions sections
Introduction: Context, rationale, and objectives of the study
Materials and Methods: Study design, setting, population, data collection, analysis
Results: Findings presented with supporting data and outcomes
Discussion: Interpretation, comparison with literature, policy implications
Conclusions: Key findings and recommendations for policy/practice
References: Vancouver style formatting

Global Health Reporting Expectations

IJGH prioritizes research with clear relevance to health equity and system performance. Manuscripts should describe the setting, population, and policy context so that findings can inform practice in similar environments.

Specify country, region, and health system context
Report equity considerations and implications for vulnerable populations
Describe implementation barriers and feasibility in resource-limited settings
Explain how findings advance policy, program design, or service delivery

Formatting Requirements

Text Formatting

Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) format
Double-spaced, 12-point font
Continuous line numbering
Standard margins (1 inch all sides)
No embedded figures in text

Figure Requirements

Minimum 300 DPI resolution
TIFF, JPEG, or PNG formats
Clear labeling and legends
Maps should include scale bars
Flowcharts should use standard notation

Reporting Guidelines

IJGH requires adherence to appropriate reporting standards:

Study Design Compliance

CONSORT: Randomized controlled trials
STROBE: Observational studies
PRISMA: Systematic reviews
COREQ: Qualitative research
CHEERS: Economic evaluations

Data Transparency

Include a Data Availability Statement describing whether and how data can be accessed. For studies in LMICs, consider local data governance requirements.

Ethical Approval

All human subjects research must have documented approval from an institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee. For multi-country studies, approval from each participating country may be required. Informed consent procedures must be described.

Community Engagement and Equity

Global health research should demonstrate respect for local context and community partnership. Describe how stakeholders were engaged, how benefits are shared, and how the work addresses inequities in access or outcomes.

Report community consultation or participatory methods when applicable
Describe equity implications for marginalized or high-risk populations
Clarify how findings support local capacity or policy improvement

Data Availability and Reproducibility

Include a data availability statement describing whether datasets, code, or instruments can be accessed. When sharing is restricted, explain governance requirements and how results can be verified.

Cover Letter and Suggested Reviewers

Provide a brief cover letter highlighting the policy relevance and practical impact of your findings. You may suggest reviewers with relevant expertise and provide institutional email addresses to support timely review.

Describe why the manuscript fits IJGH scope
Highlight the global health contribution and expected policy or program impact
List suggested reviewers with no conflicts of interest

References (Vancouver Style)

References should be numbered consecutively in the order they appear:

Journal Article: Smith AB, Jones CD. Malaria prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. Int J Glob Health. 2025;8(2):145-152.
Book Chapter: Lee M. Health systems strengthening. In: Chen R, editor. Global Health Policy. Geneva: WHO Press; 2024. p. 56-80.

Submission Process

Prepare: Format your manuscript according to these guidelines
Register: Create an account on ManuscriptZone submission portal
Upload: Submit manuscript, figures, consent forms, and supplementary materials
Review: Single-blind peer review by global health specialists (2-4 weeks)
Revise: Address reviewer feedback if revision is requested
Accept: Pay the APC after your manuscript is accepted (partial waivers available)
Publish: Your article goes live within 2 weeks of payment

Ready to Submit?

Your global health research can inform policy and save lives worldwide.

Submit Manuscript Call for Papers

Public Access and Funder Compliance

Some authors are required by their funders to make their research publicly available. Under the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy, Author Accepted Manuscripts accepted for publication on or after July 1, 2025, must be submitted to PubMed Central upon acceptance and made publicly available without embargo on the official date of publication.

What IJGH provides: IJGH publishes the Version of Record under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. The journal also permits authors to deposit their Author Accepted Manuscript in funder-designated repositories. Upon acceptance, we confirm the accepted manuscript version and record the funder and grant information supplied by the authors.

Author responsibility: IJGH does not currently deposit manuscripts in PubMed Central on behalf of authors. Authors are responsible for determining which funder requirements apply, initiating the appropriate repository submission and completing any required NIHMS approval steps.

Eligibility and successful processing through PubMed Central or NIHMS are determined according to the relevant funder and NIH/NLM requirements.

Important: The deposit of an individual article in PubMed Central may result in that article appearing in PubMed. It does not mean that IJGH is indexed in MEDLINE, included in the PMC Journal List or that all IJGH articles are available through PubMed. The journal's current coverage is listed on the Indexing page.

International Journal of Global Health – Instructions For Author