About the Journal

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

The Nigerian Journal of Family Practice (NJFP) is a leading peer-reviewed publication dedicated to advancing medical knowledge and healthcare practices within the unique context of family medicine and primary healthcare in Africa. Published by the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON), NJFP serves as a vital platform for scholarly exchange among family medicine and primary healthcare researchers and practitioners across Sub-Saharan Africa. The journal offers a comprehensive and contextualized view of family medicine as it is practiced on the continent, making it an indispensable resource for specialists, practitioners, and academics globally who seek engaging insights into the growth of these disciplines from a distinctly African perspective.

Publisher Information

  • Publisher: Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON)
  • Publisher Contact Person: Dr. Paul Dienye
  • Email: pdienye@yahoo.com
  • Phone: +234 803 339 3806
  • Mailing Address: University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria

Sources of Support

The Nigerian Journal of Family Practice is supported by:

  1. Contributions from the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON).
  2. Revenue generated from the sales of hard copies of the journal.

Peer Review and Editorial Process

NJFP employs a rigorous double-blind peer review system to ensure the integrity and quality of its published content. When a manuscript is submitted, the editor conducts an initial assessment to determine its suitability for publication in NJFP. Following this preliminary review, the editor solicits evaluations from at least two expert reviewers who have previously expressed their willingness to referee for the journal and whose areas of expertise align with the manuscript's subject matter.

Reviewers receive advance copies of the manuscript via email and are expected to provide a comprehensive evaluation within a specified timeframe, noting any weaknesses or problems and offering constructive suggestions for improvement. Their recommendations are based on the journal's guidelines. The selection of referees rests solely with the editor, who is knowledgeable about the reviewers' areas of interest. To maintain impartiality, the identities of both authors and reviewers are kept confidential (double-blind).

The reviewers' role is advisory, and while their feedback is highly valued, the editor is not formally obligated to accept all opinions. Reviewers do not act as a group, do not communicate with each other, and are typically unaware of each other's identities or evaluations. There is usually no requirement for reviewers to achieve a consensus. In cases where reviewers have substantial disagreements about a manuscript's quality, the editor may solicit one or more additional reviews to serve as a tie-breaker.

Reviewers' comments are then meticulously compiled and sent to the authors, who are expected to implement necessary revisions or address any queries arising from the feedback. Once authors resubmit the amended manuscript, the editor forwards it back to the original referees for a final assessment and recommendation. The final decision regarding publication rests with the editorial board.

Publication and Access

The Nigerian Journal of Family Practice is committed to the principles of open access, ensuring that research findings are broadly disseminated without financial barriers.

Open Access Policy

NJFP operates under a comprehensive open-access policy, aligning with the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) to promote the unrestricted availability of scholarly content.

  • Free Accessibility: All journal content is immediately and freely available to the public without any subscription fees or registration requirements.
  • Unrestricted Use: Readers are granted broad rights to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, and link to the full texts of articles without prior permission, provided that proper attribution to the original authors and source is consistently maintained.
  • Author Copyright Retention: Authors retain full copyright of their published work. By submitting to NJFP, authors agree to license their articles under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license permits users to share and adapt the material (including commercial use) as long as the original authors are appropriately credited, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made to the original material are clearly indicated. The journal explicitly states that open access content is never labeled "All rights reserved" and is freely accessible under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.

Article Submission and Processing Fees

  • Submission Fees: There are no fees for submitting manuscripts to NJFP.
  • Processing Fees: Upon acceptance for publication, authors are required to pay a publication fee of N60,000 (approximately $50 USD). This fee covers the costs associated with manuscript processing, formatting, and online publication.

Access and Availability

  • Online Access: All published articles are readily available online through the journal's official website.
  • Hard Copies: For those who prefer physical copies, hard copies of the journal can be purchased for N6,000 (approximately $5 USD). Inquiries and purchases can be made directly via the Editor-in-Chief.

Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication Policy

The Nigerian Journal of Family Practice maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against plagiarism and duplicate publication to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity.

  • Routine Checks: The journal employs a multi-faceted approach to detect originality, utilizing both automated plagiarism detection tools (e.g., Grammarly, as mentioned in the NFMJ example) and thorough manual reviews of all submitted manuscripts.
  • Rejection of Major Issues: Manuscripts found to contain significant instances of plagiarism or uncredited reuse of previously published content (self-plagiarism or duplicate publication) will be promptly rejected.
  • Resolution of Minor Concerns: Minor instances of plagiarism or formatting issues may be addressed through direct communication with the authors, requiring clarification and necessary revisions.
  • Post-Publication Action: If plagiarism or duplicate publication is discovered after an article has been published, NJFP will take immediate and decisive action. This includes the retraction of the article and notification of all relevant parties, including authors' institutions and academic databases, in accordance with best practices.
  • Alignment with Standards: These stringent measures are in full alignment with the guidelines established by reputable organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Editorial Support and Governance

The Nigerian Journal of Family Practice benefits from the robust institutional support of the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON). The journal is guided by an extensive and distinguished editorial board, which comprises esteemed professionals from various prominent Nigerian institutions. This national expertise is further complemented by the invaluable insights of international advisers, ensuring a global perspective and a broad scope of content within the published research. This strong governance structure underpins the journal's commitment to quality and relevance in family medicine and primary healthcare.

Aim and Scope

Aim

The primary aim of the Nigerian Journal of Family Practice is to disseminate high-quality, peer-reviewed research and clinical insights that are directly relevant to primary healthcare and family medicine, not only within Nigeria but also on a broader international scale.

Scope

NJFP publishes a diverse range of scholarly contributions, including original research articles, case reports, review articles, editorials, and clinical practice guidelines. The journal's thematic focus encompasses, but is not limited to, the following critical areas:

  • Healthcare System Dynamics: Examination of the challenges, opportunities, and effectiveness of healthcare delivery systems across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare levels.
  • Preventive and Promotive Health: Strategies and research related to health promotion and disease prevention.
  • Evidence-Based Practice: Development and dissemination of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for both common and emerging health conditions relevant to family medicine.
  • African Contextualization: Research specifically addressing healthcare delivery systems and their effectiveness within the Nigerian and broader African context.
  • Specific Sub-disciplines: In-depth coverage of fields such as Family Medicine, Primary Healthcare, District Health, Rural Health, Community-Oriented Primary Care, Education and training of professionals and health workers in primary healthcare and family medicine, Medical Informatics and Information Science, Accident & Emergency care, Occupational Health, and Travel Medicine.

Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered on this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal. They will not be made available for any other purpose or shared with any other party.

Contact Information

For further inquiries, detailed submission instructions, or information regarding the purchase of hard copies, please contact the Editor-in-Chief via the contact details provided on the journal’s website.

Policy Updates

This comprehensive policy document is periodically updated to reflect evolving practices in scholarly publishing and technological advancements. Authors and readers are encouraged to refer to the journal’s website for the most current version of these policies.