Peer Review Policy

The African Journal of Health Economics (AJHE) uses a peer review process to assess the quality, relevance, originality, and scientific integrity of manuscripts submitted for publication.

Initial Editorial Assessment

All manuscripts submitted to AJHE are first assessed by the Editorial Office to determine whether they are suitable for the journal and comply with the journal's scope and submission requirements. Manuscripts may be returned to authors at this stage if they do not meet the journal's requirements or fall outside the journal's scope.

Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial assessment are sent for peer review by qualified reviewers with relevant expertise in the subject area. AJHE normally seeks reviews from at least two independent reviewers.

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on relevant criteria, which may include:

• Scientific and methodological quality
• Originality and contribution to knowledge
• Relevance to health economics and/or health policy
• Clarity and organisation of the manuscript
• Appropriateness of the analysis and interpretation
• Ethical considerations, where applicable
• Adequacy of references and supporting evidence

Editorial Decisions

Following peer review, the Editor-in-Chief or an authorised member of the Editorial Board makes a decision based on the reviewers' assessments and the overall quality and suitability of the manuscript.

Possible decisions include:

• Accept
• Minor revision
• Major revision
• Reject

Where revisions are requested, authors may be asked to respond to reviewers' comments and submit a revised manuscript for further assessment. A revised manuscript may be returned to the original reviewers or assessed by the Editorial Team, depending on the nature of the revisions.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts submitted to AJHE are treated as confidential during the editorial and peer review process. Reviewers are expected to maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and should not disclose or use unpublished information obtained through the review process.

Reviewer Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers should disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest that could affect their impartial assessment of a manuscript. Where a significant conflict exists, the reviewer may be asked to decline the review.

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are based on the scholarly quality, relevance, and suitability of manuscripts. Authors, reviewers, and editorial staff are expected to conduct themselves professionally and ethically throughout the publication process.