AuthorGuidelines

Submission • Reporting • Ethics • Production

Author Guidelines (2026)

Innovation Midwifery and Child Health Practice (IMCHP)

Professional instructions for preparing, reporting, submitting, revising, and producing manuscripts in midwifery, maternal, newborn, infant, nursing, and related health sciences.

Double-Blind Peer Review APA 7th Edition Research Ethics Required LaTeX Production Workflow
IMCHP Journal Cover
Before You Submit

Scope and Author Responsibility

Innovation Midwifery and Child Health Practice (IMCHP) publishes rigorous and relevant scholarship in midwifery, maternal health, pregnancy and childbirth, postpartum care, newborn and infant health, perinatal outcomes, reproductive health related to midwifery practice, maternal–newborn health systems, clinical education, digital health, and related interdisciplinary health research.

Authors are responsible for the originality, ethical integrity, methodological transparency, accuracy, reproducibility, authorship, declarations, and completeness of all submitted materials. Manuscripts that fall outside the journal's scope or do not meet essential reporting and ethical requirements may be declined during editorial screening without external peer review.

Required Submission Files

Mandatory Submission Package & Download Center

Authors should prepare all mandatory files before beginning an OJS submission. The buttons below are intended to link to the journal's official Word templates. The journal administrator may replace each href URL with the final hosted document location.

1. Cover Letter Explain scope fit, originality, contribution, ethical compliance, prior dissemination, and information for the Editor. Download Cover Letter (.docx) 2. Blinded Manuscript Main article without author names, affiliations, ORCID iDs, identifying acknowledgments, or identifying document metadata. Download Manuscript (.docx)
3. Title Page Complete author names, affiliations, ORCID iDs, correspondence details, author order, funding, and relevant declarations. Download Title Page (.docx) 4. Author Declarations CRediT authorship, conflicts of interest, funding, ethics, consent, data availability, originality, copyright, and AI disclosure. Download Author Declarations (.docx)
5. Turnitin Similarity Report — Mandatory Authors must upload the complete Turnitin Similarity Report in PDF format corresponding to the same manuscript version submitted to IMCHP. The report should include the overall similarity result and source matches. 6. Reporting Checklist / Supplementary Files Upload the applicable CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA, PRISMA-ScR, COREQ, CARE, SRQR, STARD, TRIPOD, or other reporting checklist, together with protocols, questionnaires, or supplementary data where relevant.
Main File
DOCX		 Language
English		 References
APA 7th Edition		 Peer Review
Double-Blind		 Similarity Report
Turnitin PDF Required
Submission Categories

Article Types

Article Type Reporting Framework Core Expectation
Quantitative Original Research STROBE / design-appropriate guidance Theory-driven or clinically relevant quantitative research with transparent measurement and statistical analysis.
Randomized / Quasi-Experimental Study CONSORT / relevant extension Clear intervention, participant flow, outcomes, harms, effect estimates, and registration where required.
Systematic Review / Meta-Analysis PRISMA Transparent protocol, search, screening, appraisal, synthesis, and certainty/limitations where applicable.
Scoping Review PRISMA-ScR Comprehensive evidence mapping with transparent eligibility and charting procedures.
Qualitative Research COREQ / SRQR Methodological congruence, reflexivity, transparent analysis, and evidence-supported interpretation.
Mixed-Methods Research Design-appropriate mixed-method guidance Clear rationale and integration of qualitative and quantitative components.
Case Report / Clinical Case CARE Strong educational or clinical relevance to IMCHP scope with appropriate consent.
Methodological / Implementation Research Relevant methodological or implementation guidance Reproducible methodological contribution relevant to maternal–infant care or health services.
Core Manuscript Organization

Quantitative and Model-Based Manuscript Structure

The following structure is recommended for quantitative, hypothesis-driven, explanatory, predictive, mediation, moderation, regression, SEM, PLS-SEM, and related model-based studies.

 
Title

Use a concise, informative, specific, and searchable title that accurately reflects the principal constructs, population or study context where scientifically relevant, and study design. Avoid unnecessary abbreviations, promotional wording, and causal claims that cannot be supported by the design.

 
Structured Abstract

Use Background, Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusion. Briefly identify the problem, objective, design, sample, principal variables, analytical method, major findings, and evidence-supported conclusion. Do not include citations, tables, figures, or undefined abbreviations. Provide 3–6 keywords, preferably standardized health-science terms where appropriate.

 
1. Introduction

Establish why the study is necessary. The Introduction should move from the broader clinical, professional, behavioral, educational, or health-system problem toward a clearly defined research gap and study objective.

  • Describe the relevant maternal, midwifery, newborn, infant, reproductive, nursing, or health-care problem.
  • Establish the scientific, clinical, professional, or policy significance of the problem.
  • Summarize the most relevant current evidence without duplicating Section 2.
  • Identify the unresolved theoretical, empirical, methodological, or contextual gap.
  • Explain the novelty and expected scientific contribution.
  • Conclude with a clear objective, research question, or overall study purpose.
 
2. Literature Review and Hypothesis Development

Required for studies testing theoretical relationships, structural models, mediation, moderation, prediction, or hypothesis-driven quantitative relationships. This section must provide a critical synthesis of theory and empirical evidence rather than an author-by-author summary.

2.1. Theoretical Foundation

Identify the principal theory or complementary theories, define their core assumptions, and explain the mechanisms through which they predict relationships among the study variables. Authors should demonstrate why the theory is appropriate for the present problem.

2.2. Conceptualization of Study Constructs

Define each principal construct using authoritative literature. Clearly distinguish conceptually related constructs and explain the role of independent variables, outcomes, mediators, moderators, and other relevant constructs.

2.3. Empirical Evidence and Research Gap

Critically synthesize consistent, contradictory, and inconclusive evidence; methodological limitations; population differences; contextual limitations; and unresolved relationships. Clarify what is known, what remains uncertain, and how the present study extends knowledge.

2.4. Hypothesis Development

Each hypothesis must arise from an explicit theoretical mechanism and relevant empirical evidence. Explain why a relationship is expected before stating the hypothesis.

  • Develop a separate logical argument for each direct relationship.
  • State the expected direction when theoretically justified.
  • Number hypotheses sequentially as H1, H2, H3, and so forth.
  • Avoid hypotheses based only on previous statistical significance.
2.5. Mediation and Moderation Hypotheses (if applicable)

Mediation must explain the mechanism through which an antecedent influences an outcome through a mediator. Moderation must explain why and under what conditions the strength or direction of a relationship changes. Sequential mediation, multiple mediation, moderated mediation, or conditional-process models require explicit theoretical ordering and justification.

2.6. Conceptual Framework / Hypothesized Model

Present a clearly labeled framework illustrating all hypothesized relationships. Distinguish independent variables, dependent variables, mediators, moderators, and control variables where applicable. Every arrow in the model must correspond to a theoretically justified relationship and, where relevant, a formally stated hypothesis. Cite the diagram as Figure 1. Proposed Conceptual Framework.

 
3. Innovation Methods

This section must describe the methodological design with sufficient detail for scientific appraisal and reproducibility. The term Innovation Methods reflects IMCHP's emphasis on transparent, rigorous, and methodologically explicit research rather than implying that every manuscript must invent a new statistical technique.

3.1. Study Design and Setting

Identify the quantitative design, study setting, data-collection period, and whether the study is cross-sectional, longitudinal, experimental, quasi-experimental, prospective, retrospective, survey-based, or another appropriate design.

3.2. Population, Eligibility, Sampling, and Sample Size

Specify the target population, inclusion/exclusion criteria, recruitment procedure, sampling strategy, final analytical sample, and a defensible sample-size or power justification appropriate to the chosen analytical method.

3.3. Variables and Model Specification

Identify all independent variables, dependent variables, mediators, moderators, covariates, and control variables. Define expected model relationships consistently with the hypotheses and conceptual framework.

3.4. Measurement Instruments and Operationalization

Identify the source of each scale or instrument, number of items, response format, scoring procedure, adaptation or translation procedure, construct operationalization, and supporting evidence for measurement quality.

3.5. Validity and Reliability

Report procedures appropriate to the analytical framework, such as content validity, construct validity, factor loadings, internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability, rho_A, AVE, discriminant validity, HTMT, CFA, or equivalent indices.

3.6. Data Collection and Quality Control

Describe recruitment, informed consent, administration procedures, response monitoring, data quality procedures, handling of incomplete questionnaires, and safeguards against duplicate or invalid responses where relevant.

3.7. Data Screening and Preliminary Analysis

Explain treatment of missing data, outliers, normality/distributional assumptions, multicollinearity, common-method concerns, non-response bias, and other relevant diagnostic procedures.

3.8. Statistical and Structural Analysis

Identify the analytical technique used to test each objective or hypothesis, including regression, logistic regression, multilevel analysis, CB-SEM, PLS-SEM, mediation, moderation, multi-group analysis, predictive assessment, or other justified methods. State the software and version used.

3.9. Model Evaluation and Robustness

Specify criteria for evaluating measurement and structural models, model fit where relevant, explanatory power, predictive performance, effect sizes, confidence intervals, robustness checks, sensitivity analyses, and alternative specifications where scientifically appropriate.

3.10. Ethical Approval and Registration

Provide the approving ethics committee/institutional review board, approval or reference number, informed-consent procedures, participant protections, and trial/protocol registration where applicable.

 
4. Results

IMCHP uses an integrated Results-and-Discussion approach within Section 4. Authors should report empirical findings clearly and then interpret their meaning in relation to theory, hypotheses, prior evidence, and clinical or professional relevance. A separate numbered "Discussion" section is not required for this quantitative structure.

4.1. Participant Flow and Sample Characteristics

Report recruitment, response rate, exclusions, final analytical sample, and relevant demographic, clinical, maternal, professional, or institutional characteristics.

4.2. Descriptive and Preliminary Analysis

Present descriptive statistics, assumption checks, correlations where relevant, missing-data findings, multicollinearity diagnostics, and other preliminary results.

4.3. Measurement Model / Instrument Performance

For latent-variable models, report indicator reliability, internal consistency, convergent validity, discriminant validity, CFA/model-fit indices where applicable, and other measurement properties required by the selected analytical framework.

4.4. Structural Model and Hypothesis Testing

Report coefficients, standard errors, confidence intervals, exact p-values where appropriate, effect sizes, explained variance, predictive indicators, model-fit indices where relevant, and the decision for each hypothesis using the same H1, H2, H3 numbering introduced in Section 2.

4.5. Integrated Interpretation and Discussion

Following the relevant statistical result, explain its scientific meaning. The interpretation should:

  • State whether the corresponding hypothesis was supported.
  • Interpret the finding using the theory established in Section 2.
  • Compare the result critically with relevant prior evidence.
  • Explain unexpected, contradictory, or non-significant relationships where scientifically plausible.
  • Discuss mediation or moderation mechanisms when tested.
  • Explain theoretical, clinical, professional, educational, managerial, health-system, or policy implications where justified.
  • Address strengths, limitations, contextual boundaries, and focused future research.
Recommended Results Presentation

For model-based research, authors may organize subsections by analytical theme or hypothesis, for example: 4.4.1 Effect of X1 on Y → statistical result → hypothesis decision → theoretical interpretation → comparison with prior evidence → implication. This integrated format is encouraged when it improves clarity and avoids unnecessary repetition.

 
5. Conclusion

Provide a concise synthesis of the principal findings and directly answer the study objective. The Conclusion should emphasize the strongest evidence-supported contribution and implication without repeating the full Results section or introducing new evidence.

  • State the main empirical finding or overall pattern of findings.
  • Explain how the findings answer the research objective.
  • Identify the principal theoretical contribution where applicable.
  • State the most relevant clinical, professional, maternal–infant, educational, managerial, health-system, or policy implication supported by the data.
  • Avoid detailed coefficients, p-values, tables, new citations, or unsupported causal recommendations.
 
Declarations and References

Following the main manuscript, include all applicable ethical, authorship, transparency, funding, data, and publication statements.

  • Ethics Approval
  • Consent to Participate
  • Consent for Publication, where applicable
  • Data Availability Statement
  • Funding
  • Conflict of Interest / Competing Interests
  • CRediT Author Contributions
  • Acknowledgments
  • Generative AI Disclosure, where applicable
  • References formatted according to APA 7th Edition with DOI information where available

Title Page

  • Full manuscript title and short title.
  • Full names of all authors in publication order.
  • Department, institution, city, and country for each affiliation.
  • Corresponding author's complete email and contact details.
  • ORCID iD for each author where available.
  • CRediT contributor roles.
  • Funding, competing-interest, and relevant declaration information.
  • Acknowledgments that could identify authors or institutions.

Blinded Manuscript

  • Remove author names, affiliations, email addresses, and ORCID iDs.
  • Use neutral wording for self-citations when necessary.
  • Remove identifying acknowledgments and grant details where they reveal identity.
  • Delete identifying information from the file name and Word document properties.
  • Do not remove methodological information required for scientific assessment.
Presentation Standards

Formatting and Language

Font & Spacing
Times New Roman, 12 pt body text; 1.15–1.5 line spacing; continuous page numbering.
 Page Layout
A4 page size; approximately 2.5 cm margins; single-column manuscript for peer review.
 Language
Clear scholarly English. British or American spelling is acceptable if used consistently.

Define abbreviations at first use and avoid unnecessary jargon. Use respectful, person-centered, non-stigmatizing terminology. Sex- and gender-related terminology should be scientifically appropriate to the research question and population.

Tables

  • Number tables consecutively in the order cited.
  • Provide a concise, informative title above each table.
  • Tables must remain editable rather than embedded as images.
  • Explain abbreviations and statistical symbols in table notes.
  • Avoid unnecessary vertical lines and decorative formatting.

Figures

  • Number figures consecutively in the order cited.
  • Provide a self-contained caption below each figure.
  • Use high-resolution and publication-legible graphics.
  • Remove personally identifiable participant information.
  • Obtain permission for third-party copyrighted material where required.
Mandatory for Health Research

Research Ethics and Participant Protection

Research involving human participants, identifiable human data, or biological material must state the name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board and the approval/reference number. The manuscript must describe informed-consent procedures or explain an approved waiver where applicable.

  • Clinical trials should be registered in an appropriate publicly accessible registry where required.
  • Case reports and identifiable clinical images require appropriate consent for publication.
  • Research involving pregnant participants, neonates, infants, children, or other vulnerable groups must describe appropriate safeguards.
  • Animal research must identify relevant ethics approval and welfare standards.
  • Participant confidentiality and data privacy must be protected throughout submission and publication.
Transparent Reporting

Study-Design Reporting Guidelines

Study Design Recommended Guideline
Randomized controlled trials CONSORT and relevant extensions
Observational studies STROBE
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses PRISMA
Scoping reviews PRISMA-ScR
Qualitative research COREQ or SRQR
Case reports CARE
Diagnostic accuracy studies STARD
Prediction models TRIPOD
Citation and Reference Management

References — APA 7th Edition

References must follow APA 7th Edition. Authors are strongly encouraged to use Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote and verify every citation against the original source.

  • Prioritize relevant peer-reviewed primary research and high-quality evidence syntheses.
  • Use recent evidence where appropriate while retaining essential seminal literature.
  • Include DOI information when available.
  • Ensure complete correspondence between in-text citations and the reference list.
  • Do not submit unverifiable, fabricated, or AI-generated references.

Originality, Turnitin, Plagiarism, and AI-Assisted Writing

All submissions must represent original work and must not be simultaneously under consideration elsewhere. A complete Turnitin Similarity Report in PDF format is mandatory at initial submission. The report must correspond to the manuscript version uploaded to IMCHP.

Similarity results are evaluated contextually. A similarity percentage alone does not establish plagiarism or publication eligibility. Authors remain fully responsible for originality, accurate citation, confidentiality, and the integrity of all content. Substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies must be disclosed; AI systems cannot qualify as authors.

Post-Acceptance Publishing Workflow

Production Model — Professional LaTeX Typesetting

IMCHP uses a standardized LaTeX-based production workflow for accepted manuscripts. The author's submitted Word manuscript is used for peer review and editorial evaluation; after final acceptance, the article is converted and professionally typeset using the journal's LaTeX production model to achieve consistent typography, mathematical notation, tables, figures, references, metadata presentation, and final publication layout.

The LaTeX production stage is an editorial and publishing process and does not replace scientific peer review. Formatting changes made during typesetting must not alter the scientific meaning, data, conclusions, authorship, or approved content of the accepted manuscript.

Important Note for Authors

Authors are expected to cooperate throughout production and proof correction. Because accepted articles are professionally reformatted into the IMCHP LaTeX standard, authors should allow sufficient time for typesetting, reference verification, figure/table adjustment, metadata checks, and proof review. The corresponding author must carefully review the production proof and return corrections within the deadline specified by the editorial office.

1. Accepted Manuscript
Final editorially approved content.		 2. LaTeX Typesetting
Journal-standard production formatting.		 3. Author Proof
Corresponding-author verification and corrections.		 4. Final Publication
Final PDF/metadata publication after approval.
Open Journal Systems

Step-by-Step Submission

1. Prepare All Mandatory Files
Prepare the blinded manuscript, title page, cover letter, author declarations, mandatory Turnitin report, applicable reporting checklist, and supplementary material.
2. Register or Log In
Complete the author profile accurately, including author name, country, affiliation, active email, and ORCID iD where available.
3. Start a New Submission
Select the appropriate article category and confirm all submission requirements.
4. Upload Files and Assign Components
File Recommended OJS Component
Blinded Manuscript.docx Article Text / Manuscript
Title Page.docx Title Page / Other
Cover Letter.docx or .pdf Cover Letter / Other
Author Declarations.docx or .pdf Other / Supplementary File
Turnitin Similarity Report.pdf Plagiarism Report / Other
Reporting Checklist / Supplementary Files Research Instrument / Other
5. Enter Complete Metadata
Enter title, abstract, keywords, all authors in the correct order, affiliations, email addresses, ORCID iDs, funding information, and references. OJS metadata must match the Title Page exactly.
6. Review and Complete Submission
Check all files and metadata before completing the submission. The corresponding author should receive an automated confirmation from the journal system.

Peer Review and Editorial Assessment

Submissions first undergo editorial screening for scope, completeness, originality, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and methodological adequacy. Manuscripts passing initial screening are normally evaluated through double-blind peer review by reviewers with relevant subject and/or methodological expertise.

Editorial decisions may include rejection, major revision, minor revision, resubmission, or acceptance. Revised manuscripts should be accompanied by a detailed point-by-point response to all editorial and reviewer comments.

Final Quality Control

Pre-Submission Checklist

✓ Manuscript fits IMCHP's focus and scope. ✓ Blinded manuscript contains no author identifiers.
✓ Ethics approval and consent are reported where applicable. ✓ Mandatory Turnitin PDF is attached.
✓ Appropriate reporting checklist is included. ✓ Tables, figures, statistics, and references have been checked.
✓ All declarations and contributor information are complete. ✓ All authors approved the submitted version and OJS metadata.
Indexing Readiness

Editorial Standards and Indexing Evaluation

These guidelines are designed to strengthen editorial consistency, transparency, reporting quality, publication ethics, metadata quality, and professional production. Compliance with these guidelines supports journal quality and indexing readiness; however, inclusion in Scopus or any other indexing database is determined independently by the respective evaluation body and cannot be guaranteed by manuscript formatting alone.

Editorial Inquiries

For questions concerning scope, manuscript preparation, submission, revision, or production, please contact the IMCHP editorial office through the official journal website or designated editorial email.

© 2026 Innovation Midwifery and Child Health Practice (IMCHP)

Published by PT. Inovasi Analisis Data • E-ISSN 3063-1009 • P-ISSN 3063-1017