About the Journal

1. Background

To establish what makes the journal distinctive, a review of many databases was done. Also we have conducted expert debate at the college level via online and in person meeting to reach at this milestone decisions. Madda Walabu University's College of Medicine and Health Sciences places a high priority on research, innovation, and community involvement. There is still a paucity of institutional and national platform for publishing genuinely interdisciplinary biomedical and health research, despite these efforts. This disparity emphasizes the necessity of a specialized channel for the dissemination of excellent research in various biomedical and health-related fields.

2. Rationale

The establishment of the JIBHS aims to provide a long-term institutional platform for undergraduate, postgraduate and higher degree by research (PhD) research outputs. It seeks to promote interdisciplinary research, enhance doctoral training, mentorship, and scholarly dissemination, and elevate the university’s academic profile at an international level. By complementing the existing Journal of Equity in Sciences and Sustainable Development (JESSD), focusing on specialized themes, and accommodating a variety of article types, this new journal will address the identified publishing gap and support MWU’s strategic goals.

3. Aim

The aim of establish this college specific journal is:

  • To establish a reputable, peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal that advances research, policy, and practice in biomedical and health sciences.

4. Objectives

  • Publish high-quality original research and review articles
  • Promote interdisciplinary and implementation focused research
  • Serve as a platform for national and international scholars
  • Support evidence-informed health policy and practice
  • Enhance MWU research reputation and indexing presence

5. Scope of the Journal

The JIBHS publishes high-quality interdisciplinary research across health and biomedical sciences. The journal prioritizes integrative, interdisciplinary, translational, and policy-relevant studies in the following broad areas:

  • Basic Medical Sciences
  • Clinical Sciences
  • Public Health
  • Health Systems and Policy
  • Implementation Science
  • Digital Health
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Mental Health
  • Maternal, Child, & Reproductive Health
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Global Health
  • Nursing & Allied Health Sciences
  • Precision Medicine & Genomics
  • Infectious Diseases & One Health

6. Types of Manuscripts Considered by JIBHS

The JIBHS journal publishes all research study types, from protocols through phase I trials to meta-analyses, including small, specialist studies, and negative studies. The JIBHS will consider the following types of manuscripts for publication:

  1. Original research articles
  2. Review articles
  3. Policy briefs
  4. Case studies, case report, and case series
  5. Editorials, commentaries/perspectives, short communications, methodology papers and letters to the Editor.

7. Governance and Organizational Structure

7.1. Ownership

The MWU CMHS will be the owner and host of the JIBHS.

7.2. Suggested Editorial Structure

The editorial appointments will be merit-based, with national and international representation. The JIBHS will follow the following organizational structure:

  1. Editor-in-chief
  2. Associate Editors
  3. National and international advisory board
  4. Managing editor
  5. Technical and Production Editor
  6. Editorial board (chief editor, associate editor, technical editor)
  7. Statistical editor

8. Peer Review and Editorial Policy

The JIBHS will follow all national and international experience of review manuscript and apply the following elements:

  1. Double-blind peer-review: the identities of both authors and reviewers will be concealed throughout the review period.
  2. Minimum of two independent reviewers per manuscript
  3. Clear editorial timelines and decision criteria will be developed and implemented
  4. Adherence to committee on publication ethics (COPE) and the international committee of medical journal editors (ICMJE) guideline.
  5. Strong plagiarism detection and research ethics policies will be enforced.