Peer Review Policy

Peer Review Policy

Peer Review Policy

The Journal Sahélien des Sciences de la Santé (JSSS) submits all scientific manuscripts (original articles, case reports, review articles, letters to the editor) to double-blind peer review: the identities of authors and reviewers remain mutually confidential throughout the process.

Review process

  1. Editorial screening. On receipt, the editorial office checks that the manuscript complies with the instructions for authors and falls within the journal's scope. The originality of the text is verified using the plagiarism-detection software Compilatio. A similarity rate deemed excessive results in the manuscript being returned to its authors for rewriting, or rejected.
  2. Anonymisation. The manuscript is anonymised before being sent to reviewers.
  3. Expert review. Each manuscript retained is assigned to at least two independent reviewers with expertise in the field, drawn from the review board or from external experts.
  4. Recommendations. Reviewers assess originality, methodological rigour, validity of results, clarity and ethical compliance, then recommend: acceptance, minor revisions, major revisions or rejection.
  5. Decision. The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision based on the reviews and communicates it to the authors together with the anonymised comments.
  6. Revisions. Authors are given a deadline to submit a revised version with a point-by-point response, which may undergo a second round of review.
  7. Final decision and publication once the final version is validated.

Indicative timelines

First decision to authors: approximately 4 to 8 weeks. Timelines may vary depending on reviewer availability and the extent of revisions required.

Principles

  • Confidentiality: manuscripts are confidential documents; they are neither disclosed nor used by reviewers or editors.
  • Impartiality: manuscripts are assessed solely on their scientific content, regardless of the authors' origin, gender, nationality or institutional affiliation.
  • Conflicts of interest: any reviewer with a conflict of interest must decline the assignment.
  • Integrity: any suspicion of misconduct (plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, redundant submission) is handled in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policy.