Journal of health research in community

1. Scope and Key Commitments

• The primary aim of medical research is to generate knowledge to improve individual and public health; however, the rights and interests of participants take precedence over any scientific objective (Declaration of Helsinki, 2024).
• Adherence to ethical principles is mandatory under all circumstances, including public health emergencies (Declaration of Helsinki, 2024).
• Research must be conducted by individuals or teams with appropriate scientific and ethical competence, maintaining scientific integrity and avoiding misconduct (Declaration of Helsinki, 2024).

2. Primacy of Human Rights and Dignity

• The welfare, rights, dignity, and safety of research participants always take precedence over the interests of science and society.
• No national or institutional regulation can reduce the level of protection guaranteed by the Declaration of Helsinki.

3. Scientific Validity and Integrity

• Research must be grounded in robust scientific methodology, systematic literature review, and where appropriate, laboratory and animal studies.
• Authors are required to demonstrate that their studies are free from research waste and conducted with scientific rigor and transparency.

4. Risk–Benefit Assessment

• Research involving human participants must only proceed if the anticipated benefits outweigh potential risks or burdens.
• Risks must be continuously monitored, documented, and mitigated. Studies must be suspended or terminated if risks outweigh potential benefits.

5. Independent Ethical Review

• All study protocols must be reviewed and approved by an independent, qualified Research Ethics Committee (REC) prior to initiation.
• For multi-country studies, approval is required from committees in both sponsor and host countries.
• Ethical approval identifiers (e.g., IRB/REC number) must be clearly stated in the Methods section of submitted manuscripts.

6. Privacy, Confidentiality, and Data Protection

• Authors must safeguard participants’ privacy and ensure strict confidentiality of personal and health information.
• Identifiable data must not be published unless essential and only with explicit written informed consent.

7. Informed Consent

• Participation must be voluntary and based on free and fully informed consent.
• Consent must include: study purpose, methodology, expected benefits, potential risks, funding sources, conflicts of interest, privacy safeguards, and arrangements for compensation in case of research-related harm.
• Consent should preferably be written (paper or electronic). In exceptional circumstances where written consent is not feasible, oral consent must be documented and witnessed.
• In relationships involving dependency (e.g., patient–physician), consent must be obtained by an independent person.
• For participants lacking capacity, consent must be obtained from a legally authorized representative, and assent from the participant whenever possible.

8. Protection of Vulnerable Populations

• Inclusion of vulnerable groups (e.g., children, refugees, economically disadvantaged populations) is permissible only when essential to addressing their health needs and when research cannot be conducted with non-vulnerable groups.
• Special protections and justifications must be documented in the study protocol.

9. Community Engagement and Equity

• Meaningful engagement with communities before, during, and after research is required to ensure that research reflects community priorities and values.

10. Underrepresented groups and communities must have equitable opportunities to participate; however, the inclusion of individuals or groups with greater vulnerabilities is justified only when it addresses their health needs and when exclusion would perpetuate inequities (Declaration of Helsinki, 2024).Environmental Responsibility

• Research must be designed and conducted in ways that minimize environmental harm and promote sustainability (Declaration of Helsinki, 2024).

11. Transparency, Registration, and Dissemination of Results

• All clinical trials and human studies must be prospectively registered in a publicly accessible registry before enrolling the first participant.
• Results, whether positive, negative, or inconclusive, must be published or otherwise made publicly available.
• Sources of funding, institutional affiliations, and conflicts of interest must be clearly disclosed.

12. Post-Trial Provisions

• Participants must have continued access to beneficial interventions identified during the study, with such provisions described in the study protocol and informed consent process.

13. Unproven Interventions in Clinical Practice

• In cases where proven interventions are unavailable, physicians may use unproven interventions with expert consultation and informed consent if such interventions offer hope of saving life or alleviating suffering.
• Such interventions must subsequently be evaluated through formal research and reported transparently.

14. Compensation and Participant Protection

• Appropriate compensation and treatment must be ensured for participants who suffer harm as a result of their participation, and this must be described in the study protocol (Declaration of Helsinki, 2024).

Journal Requirements for Authors

1. Ethics Committee approval number and the name of the approving body.
2. Clinical trial registration number (if applicable).
3. Statement of informed consent, including how it was obtained and archived.
4. Data protection measures for privacy and confidentiality.
5. Community engagement strategies (for community-based studies).
6. Environmental impact considerations (when relevant).