South American Publishing (SAP) journals are international, peer-reviewed publications dedicated to advancing scholarly dialogue across multiple disciplines. Our journals aim to publish high-quality research relevant to professionals, researchers, and policymakers worldwide.

1. Submission Preparation and Templates
Manuscripts must be prepared using the official SAP Journal Template. Submissions that do not adhere to the formatting requirements may be returned to authors for correction before entering the peer-review process.

Download Template: SAP Word Template (.docx)

Style Guide: All manuscripts must follow the Vancouver Style (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors - ICMJE) for citations and references.

2. Originality and Preprints
Manuscripts are considered with the understanding that they have not been published previously and are not under consideration by another publisher.

Preprints: SAP supports open science and considers material previously published on preprint servers (e.g., medRxiv, bioRxiv, arXiv). Authors must disclose the existence of a preprint version in their cover letter.
Duplicate Submission: Failure to disclose related material or simultaneous submissions is considered unethical. A content overlap of more than 10% may be considered duplicative.

3. ORCID Requirements
To ensure proper attribution and metadata integrity, SAP requires all authors to provide their ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID).
● The ORCID is mandatory for the corresponding author at the time of submission.
● We strongly encourage all co-authors to obtain and include their ORCID in the manuscript to facilitate global indexing.

4. Language Policy
SAP journals accept manuscripts in both English and Spanish. Regardless of the language of the paper, all metadata (Title, Abstract, and Keywords) must be provided in English to ensure international visibility.

5. Manuscript Structure (IMRaD Format)
For original research, authors must follow the IMRaD structure:
● Title: Concise and informative.
● Abstract: Structured (Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusions).
● Keywords: 3 to 6 terms for indexing.
● Introduction: Background, rationale, and objectives.
● Methods: Study design, participants/subjects, interventions, and Ethical Considerations (including informed consent).
● Results: Clear presentation of findings with appropriate tables/figures.
● Discussion: Principal results, limitations, comparison with prior work, and conclusions.
● Declarations: Funding Statement, Conflicts of Interest, and Data Availability.

6. Ethical Policies and Plagiarism
Ethics: Studies involving human or animal subjects must state compliance with international ethical standards (e.g., Declaration of Helsinki).
Plagiarism: All submissions are screened using professional anti-plagiarism software. Please refer to our Anti-plagiarism Policy for detailed thresholds and procedures.

7. Cascading Peer-Review (Transfer Policy)
As a service to our authors, SAP offers a transfer policy. If a manuscript is found unsuitable for one SAP journal but aligns with the scope of another journal within the editorial group (e.g., transferring from Nursing Depths to Health and Policy), the editorial team may suggest a transfer. This allows for a faster publication process by potentially reusing previous peer-review reports.

8. Article Processing Charges (APC)
Authors should review the Fee Schedule in the "Article Processing Fees" section of the specific journal prior to submission to confirm any applicable charges for publication and production services.

Peer review constitutes a central mechanism for the selection and validation of manuscripts that meet the expected standards of quality, relevance, and scholarly impact within the scientific and professional communities addressed by South American Publishing (SAP). Through this process, the publisher ensures that all accepted works make a meaningful contribution to their respective fields of research.

Review Model: Double-Blind
The evaluation follows a double-blind peer review model, in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the process in order to preserve objectivity and impartiality. Manuscripts submitted for consideration are evaluated by at least two external reviewers who are recognized specialists in the relevant subject area and act independently from one another.

Initial Editorial Assessment
Once a manuscript is submitted, the journal acknowledges receipt by email and assigns a unique reference number for tracking purposes. The Editor-in-Chief or an appointed Section Editor then conducts an initial editorial assessment to determine whether the submission fits the scope of the publication, meets basic quality standards, and complies with formal requirements. If a manuscript does not meet these criteria, authors are informed of an early rejection, usually within 5 business days. Submissions may be declined at this stage if they fall outside the scope, are incomplete, or show evidence of plagiarism.

Peer Review Workflow and Timeline
Manuscripts that pass the preliminary assessment are forwarded for external review.
● Reviewer Selection: The reviewer pool consists of an international network of academics and professionals with doctoral qualifications or recognized expertise.
● Invitation: Reviewers have up to 7 days to accept or decline the invitation.
● Review Period: Once the invitation is accepted, reviewers are expected to submit their reports and recommendations within 4 weeks.
● Editorial Decision: Authors typically receive an initial editorial decision based on reviewer reports within an average period of 30 to 45 days from submission.

Revisions and Final Decision
When revisions are requested, authors receive anonymized comments and guidance for improving the manuscript. Revised versions, accompanied by a detailed "Response to Reviewers," must be submitted within 15 days. In cases where there is a substantial divergence between reviewer recommendations, the editor may request an additional evaluation from a third reviewer. While Section Editors manage the evaluation workflow, the final decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of any manuscript rests with the Editor-in-Chief, based on the totality of reviewer feedback and editorial judgment.

Confidentiality and Ethics
All materials submitted for evaluation are treated as strictly confidential. Reviewers must not disclose, share, or use any information contained in the manuscript for personal purposes. Communication between reviewers and the editorial team is conducted exclusively through the journal’s online platform to ensure traceability and proper documentation.

Publication and Indexing
Accepted manuscripts are typically published online within 15 to 25 days following final acceptance. All published articles are assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and become immediately citable. The editorial team is responsible for managing subsequent indexing and registration processes.

South American Publishing (SAP) maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding plagiarism and is committed to ensuring that all published academic articles are original, unpublished, and have not been previously submitted to other journals or publication platforms.

1. Screening Process
To enforce this commitment, all manuscripts submitted to SAP journals undergo a rigorous screening process before the peer-review stage begins. The editorial team utilizes professional-grade similarity detection software, including: iThenticate (Crossref Similarity Check) and Turnitin. Additionally, editors may use complementary tools such as DupliChecker, Plagium, or Copyscape when deemed necessary to ensure the integrity of the work.

2. Similarity Thresholds and Procedures
The journal has established a maximum similarity threshold of 20%.
● Results > 20%: If a similarity report exceeds 20%, the authors will be formally notified via email. This communication will include the full similarity report and an expert editorial reflection.
● Author Response: Authors will be given the opportunity to provide comments or clarifications regarding the detected overlaps.
● Editorial Determination: The editorial board will analyze the author's feedback to determine if the similarity constitutes plagiarism or a failure in proper citation. If plagiarism is confirmed, the manuscript will be summarily rejected for evaluation.

3. Preventive Measures for Authors
SAP encourages transparency and academic integrity. Editors may provide authors with recommendations for online programs and resources so they can analyze their manuscripts for potential overlaps before formal submission. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all sources are properly credited and that the work submitted is their own. Any evidence of scientific misconduct, including data falsification or duplicate submission, will result in immediate disqualification from the editorial process.

South American Publishing (SAP) is committed to supporting the unrestricted circulation of academic and scientific knowledge. Through its Open Access policy, the publisher ensures that all content released across its journals, books, and conference proceedings is made freely available to readers worldwide, without financial, technical, or legal barriers.

This policy reflects the publisher’s commitment to broadening access to research, increasing the visibility and reach of scholarly work, and enhancing its academic and social impact. By promoting open dissemination, South American Publishing seeks to contribute to scientific advancement and to the development of society through equitable access to knowledge.

Open access refers to a publishing model in which scholarly content may be read, downloaded, copied, distributed, printed, searched, or linked in full by any user, for any lawful purpose. All materials published by South American Publishing are released under Creative Commons licenses, which enable reuse of the content while ensuring that proper credit is given to the original authors.

Unless otherwise specified, authors publish their work under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This license allows others to share, reproduce, adapt, transform, and build upon the material, including for commercial purposes, provided that appropriate attribution is given and the original source of publication is acknowledged. These permissions cannot be revoked as long as the terms of the license are respected. Users must credit the author, include a reference to the license, and clearly indicate whether any changes have been made, without implying endorsement by the licensor. No additional legal or technological restrictions may be applied that would limit the freedoms granted by the license.

Authors retain their copyright after publication and are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically, including through personal websites, institutional repositories, and recognized open access platforms. Depositing published works in repositories contributes to wider dissemination, earlier visibility, and increased citation of research outputs.

Open access publishing offers multiple benefits, including greater visibility and impact for authors, increased citation potential, and improved access to research for academic communities, professionals, policymakers, and the general public. These benefits are particularly significant for researchers and readers in regions with limited access to subscription-based resources, and they support international collaboration and knowledge exchange.

To safeguard the long-term availability of published content, South American Publishing maintains a digital preservation strategy designed to ensure continued access over time. Published works are preserved through established digital archiving systems and preservation initiatives, which protect content against technological changes and unforeseen disruptions and ensure its availability for future generations of researchers and students.

The publisher is committed to transparent, responsible, and ethical publishing practices, aligned with internationally recognized standards such as those promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). South American Publishing aims to support the global dissemination of research while strengthening the presence and recognition of scholarship produced in South America and other regions of the Global South.

Some publishing services may involve Article Processing Charges (APCs) to cover the costs associated with peer review coordination, editorial management, production, and dissemination. At the same time, South American Publishing seeks to implement fair and flexible pricing models and may offer fee reductions or waivers, particularly for researchers from low- and middle-income countries or in cases where financial constraints would otherwise limit participation in open access publishing.

Author Self-Archiving Policy
Authors publishing with South American Publishing retain the copyright of their work under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). We encourage authors to self-archive and share all versions of their manuscript—including pre-prints, accepted versions, and the final published PDF (Version of Record)—in institutional repositories, personal websites, or academic social networks.

Conditions for self-archiving:
● The original source must be properly cited.
● A link to the final article via its DOI must be provided.
● The CC BY 4.0 license notice must be clearly stated.
● Authors may republish their material in other formats (such as book chapters or doctoral theses). However, submitting the same work to another scholarly journal is considered duplicate publication and is strictly prohibited.

Digital Preservation Policy
SAP journals utilize the LOCKSS and CLOCKSS systems to create a distributed archiving system among participating libraries and permits those libraries to create permanent archives of the journal for purposes of preservation and restoration. Additionally, all published content is assigned a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) through Crossref to ensure long-term accessibility.

Ethical Aspects and Editorial Responsibilities
South American Publishing is committed to safeguarding the integrity of academic content and the reliability of the publishing process. The publisher aligns its editorial practices with internationally recognized standards of publication ethics, including the principles promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These guidelines provide the foundation for responsible editorial conduct and support the consistent application of good publishing practices across all publications.

Maintaining research integrity is a central priority. All submitted works are expected to reflect honesty in research design, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Authors are required to conduct their research with due diligence and accuracy, ensuring that methodologies and results are presented transparently and responsibly. Respect for research participants, subjects, and the broader scholarly community is essential, as is accountability for the content produced and published. When concerns arise regarding research practices that may not meet these standards, authors, reviewers, and editors share a responsibility to address them appropriately.

Any individual who believes that a published or submitted work does not comply with these principles may communicate their concerns to the editorial office by contacting [email protected]. All reports are handled confidentially and reviewed in accordance with COPE guidance to ensure fair and consistent resolution.

South American Publishing operates with full editorial independence. Editorial decisions are made autonomously and are based exclusively on scholarly merit, relevance to the scope of the publication, originality, and contribution to the field. The publisher does not allow commercial interests, institutional pressures, or external influence to compromise editorial judgment. Commitment to diversity and inclusion is integral to the editorial process, and manuscripts are evaluated without discrimination based on personal characteristics, identity, institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, beliefs, or political perspectives.

Peer review is a fundamental mechanism for ensuring the quality and credibility of published research. The publisher supports rigorous, fair, and effective peer review systems and provides appropriate infrastructure and guidance to facilitate the process. All manuscripts undergoing peer review are treated as confidential, and the integrity of the double-blind review model is strictly preserved throughout the evaluation process.

Authorship must accurately reflect intellectual contributions to the work. Authors are expected to have made meaningful contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research, to have participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript, and to have approved the final version for publication. All authors share responsibility for the content of the work. The corresponding author assumes primary responsibility for communication with the editorial office, coordination of revisions, confirmation of co-author approval, and responses to post-publication inquiries.

Institutional affiliations listed in manuscripts should accurately represent the organizations where the research was conducted, supported, or formally approved. Affiliations must not be misleading or used to imply institutional endorsement where none exists.

South American Publishing maintains a strict policy against plagiarism and redundant publication. Plagiarism is understood as the use of ideas, text, data, or other materials from external sources without appropriate acknowledgment. Manuscripts suspected of plagiarism are rejected during the initial editorial assessment. If plagiarism or unethical duplication is identified after publication, corrective actions such as corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be implemented in line with COPE recommendations. Authors must not submit the same manuscript to multiple publications simultaneously, and any overlap with previously published material must be transparently disclosed and properly cited.

Research involving human participants or animals must comply with applicable ethical and legal standards. Authors are responsible for obtaining approval from relevant ethics committees and securing informed consent when required. The protection of participant privacy is essential. Clinical research must adhere to internationally recognized standards, including the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and clinical trials must be registered in an appropriate public registry prior to submission.

Transparency regarding conflicts of interest and sources of funding is required. Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any relationships or circumstances that could influence objectivity or integrity. When no conflicts exist, this should be explicitly stated. Where conflicts are present, full disclosure must be provided using recognized reporting standards. Financial support for research must also be clearly acknowledged.

Editors may issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record. Minor errors may be addressed through corrigenda or errata, while serious issues such as data falsification, fabrication, or substantial plagiarism may warrant retraction. Decisions regarding post-publication actions follow COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Authors are expected to present images and visual materials accurately. Image modifications are permitted only when they do not alter or misrepresent the original data. Any form of manipulation intended to falsify or fabricate results is unacceptable and will be addressed according to established ethical guidelines.

In cases of suspected research misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate citation practices, the publisher collaborates with relevant institutions and stakeholders to investigate the matter. Proven misconduct results in appropriate corrective measures, including retraction where necessary, in accordance with international ethical standards.

To support accessibility across diverse cultural and regional contexts, the publisher may issue adapted versions of certain works when appropriate, provided that such adaptations do not compromise the accuracy, integrity, or scholarly value of the original content.

South American Publishing adheres to recognized principles of transparency and best practices in scholarly publishing. Authors are encouraged to uphold these standards throughout the research and publication lifecycle. Accurate records of data, codes, and supporting materials should be maintained and made available when appropriate to facilitate verification and reproducibility of research findings.

Promotional and marketing communications are conducted responsibly and must not interfere with editorial independence or compromise the academic record. Communication strategies are designed to enhance visibility and accessibility while respecting the integrity of scholarly content.

Editors, reviewers, and authors each have defined responsibilities within the publication process. Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based on scholarly merit and ensuring that peer review is conducted fairly, impartially, and confidentially. Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and respectful evaluations, to maintain confidentiality, and to disclose any conflicts of interest. Authors are responsible for the originality, accuracy, and ethical compliance of their work, including transparent disclosure of AI-assisted tools used solely for language or readability support. Authors must cooperate promptly in the correction of errors identified before or after publication to ensure the ongoing reliability of the scholarly record.

Corrections, Retractions & Complaints
South American Publishing is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record. When issues are identified in published content, the publisher follows clear and transparent procedures to address errors, concerns, or complaints in a responsible and timely manner.

Corrections may be issued when a published work contains errors that do not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions of the article. These may include typographical mistakes, minor factual inaccuracies, or errors introduced during the production process. When appropriate, a correction notice, erratum, or corrigendum will be published and linked to the original article, clearly indicating the nature of the amendment while preserving the original version of record.

Retractions are reserved for cases in which a publication is found to contain serious flaws that undermine the validity, integrity, or reliability of the work. Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to, substantial errors in data or analysis, plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication or falsification of data, unethical research practices, or undisclosed conflicts of interest that significantly affect the interpretation of the work. Retraction notices are published transparently, remain permanently available, and clearly state the reasons for the retraction, without defamatory language.

In situations where concerns have been raised but a full investigation is still ongoing, or when available evidence is inconclusive, the publisher may issue an Expression of Concern. This notice serves to inform readers of potential issues while the matter is being reviewed. Expressions of Concern may be updated, replaced by a correction, or lead to retraction depending on the outcome of the investigation.

South American Publishing provides a clear mechanism for submitting complaints related to editorial decisions, publication ethics, peer review conduct, or post-publication issues. Complaints may be submitted to the editorial office and are handled confidentially and impartially. Each complaint is assessed on its merits and reviewed by the appropriate editorial authority. Complaints should be directed to [email protected]. Where necessary, additional information may be requested from the parties involved.

The publisher seeks to resolve complaints in a fair, transparent, and timely manner. Editorial decisions related to corrections, retractions, or complaints are guided by internationally recognized best practices and ethical standards, including recommendations issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to cooperate fully during any investigation or review process.

South American Publishing reserves the right to take appropriate editorial action to protect the integrity of its publications and the trust of the academic community. This policy is intended to ensure accountability while preserving due process and respect for all parties involved.

The journal is an open access publication. To provide free access to readers and cover the costs of editorial management and production, the journal charges an Article Processing Fee.

Standard Fee: The Article Processing Charge (APC) for the journal is 700 USD. This fee is payable only upon acceptance of the manuscript after a successful peer-review process. There are no submission fees.

Promotional APC Waiver: Free. This waiver applies to manuscripts submitted on or before 30 July 2026.

Use of the APC: The APC is used to maintain a high-quality publishing infrastructure and covers the following services:
● Editorial management: Support for the peer-review process and coordination between editors, reviewers, and authors.
● Production: Professional translation and copy-editing, linguistic correction, and high-quality typesetting in multiple formats.
● Online hosting: Maintenance of the digital platform, ensuring 24/7 access to research.
● Archiving and Indexing: Submission of metadata to international databases and long-term digital preservation.

Funding and Support:
● Grant Funding: Most authors cover the APC through research grants or institutional funds.
● Waivers and Discounts: The journal is committed to supporting researchers from diverse economic backgrounds. Requests for partial waivers are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Payment Process: Once a manuscript is officially accepted, the corresponding author will receive an invoice with payment instructions. The publication process will only proceed once the payment has been confirmed.

Contact Information: For any inquiries regarding billing or waiver requests, please contact: [email protected]

South American Publishing recognizes the growing influence of artificial intelligence technologies, including large language models (LLMs) and generative systems, on academic research and scholarly publishing. This policy establishes a framework for the ethical, transparent, and responsible use of AI tools throughout the editorial and publication process.

As a member of the STM Association, South American Publishing aligns its policies with the STM Recommendations for a Classification of AI Use in Academic Manuscript Preparation. This policy is further informed by guidance from international organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), as well as by practices adopted by leading academic publishers.

The use of AI-based tools, including language models such as ChatGPT, is not prohibited. However, these technologies are considered support tools and do not meet the criteria for authorship as defined by international editorial standards. The use of AI does not diminish or replace the author’s responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and accountability of the submitted work. Authors remain fully responsible for all content, regardless of whether AI tools were used during manuscript preparation.

When AI tools are employed by authors to assist with writing, data analysis, or the generation of tables, figures, or other content, such use must be clearly and transparently disclosed within the manuscript. Disclosure should indicate the name of the tool, its version or model where applicable, the purpose for which it was used, and the stage of the research or writing process in which it was applied. This information should be included in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the Methods or Acknowledgments.

AI tools must not be credited as authors under any circumstances. The use of AI technologies to fabricate data, manipulate results, generate false references, or otherwise misrepresent research findings is strictly prohibited and may be treated as research misconduct. In such cases, editorial actions may include rejection prior to publication or retraction of published material, in accordance with established ethical guidelines.

Reviewers are required to preserve the confidentiality of the peer review process at all times. Manuscript content must not be uploaded to public or external AI systems that store or reuse user data, as this would constitute a breach of confidentiality. If reviewers choose to use AI tools to assist in drafting their review reports, this must be disclosed to the editors, and no identifiable or sensitive manuscript content may be shared with such tools. Reviewers remain fully accountable for the accuracy, fairness, and appropriateness of any AI-assisted content included in their evaluations.

Editors are responsible for ensuring that authors and reviewers are informed of this policy and that its principles are consistently applied. Any use of AI tools by the editorial team for communication, workflow support, or editorial management must be documented, transparent, and must not interfere with independent editorial judgment. AI technologies must not be used as substitutes for editorial decision-making. Editorial confidentiality, integrity, and human oversight must be preserved at all stages of the process.

The editorial office may employ appropriate tools to identify potential AI-generated content, plagiarism, or manipulation, where necessary, as part of its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record. Any concerns related to the inappropriate use of AI will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In situations where questions, disputes, or uncertainties arise regarding the acceptable use of AI technologies, South American Publishing will follow the guidance and recommendations issued by COPE and WAME, as well as other relevant international standards. This policy is intended to evolve in response to developments in AI technologies and scholarly publishing practices and may be updated accordingly.