MCHU (Mother and Child Health Update) is committed to maintaining high standards of academic integrity, originality, transparency, and responsible scholarly publishing. All manuscripts submitted to MCHU undergo plagiarism, similarity, and research integrity screening before proceeding to the peer-review process.

1. Plagiarism and Similarity Screening

All submitted manuscripts are screened using appropriate plagiarism or similarity detection software. As an editorial benchmark, MCHU applies a maximum overall similarity index of 15%.

The similarity percentage is not the sole basis for determining plagiarism. Properly cited references, bibliographic entries, commonly used methodological expressions, and justified technical terminology may contribute to the similarity score and will be considered appropriately during editorial assessment.

A similarity index below 15% does not automatically guarantee that a manuscript is free from plagiarism. The editorial team will conduct a qualitative assessment of similarity reports to identify potential plagiarism, inappropriate copying, insufficient paraphrasing, duplicate publication, self-plagiarism, or unattributed use of previously published material.

Manuscripts with an overall similarity index exceeding 15% may be returned to the authors for revision or rejected, depending on the nature, extent, and sources of the detected similarity.

2. Use of Artificial Intelligence

The plagiarism and similarity screening process also forms part of MCHU's broader assessment of manuscript originality and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Authors may use AI-assisted technologies for limited supporting purposes, such as language improvement, grammar correction, translation assistance, or other technical support, provided that such use does not replace the author's intellectual contribution and is appropriately disclosed when required.

Authors must not use generative AI tools to:

• Generate substantial portions of a manuscript without meaningful human intellectual contribution and verification;
• Fabricate, manipulate, or invent data, references, citations, results, or research findings;
• Paraphrase copied material for the purpose of circumventing plagiarism detection;
• Conceal plagiarism or duplicate publication;
• Generate misleading or scientifically inaccurate information; or
• Be listed as an author or co-author.

AI tools cannot assume responsibility for the content, integrity, or accountability of a scholarly publication. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their manuscripts.

3. Disclosure of AI Use

Where AI tools have materially contributed to the preparation of a manuscript, authors are expected to disclose the name of the AI tool and the purpose of its use in an appropriate section of the manuscript or during submission, as applicable.

The use of AI for basic language correction or technical assistance does not transfer authorship or responsibility from the human authors.

Any AI-assisted or AI-generated content identified during editorial screening will be evaluated together with the manuscript's originality, transparency, accuracy, and compliance with publication ethics.

Substantial, undisclosed, or inappropriate AI-generated content may be considered an academic integrity concern even when the similarity index is below 15%.

4. Editorial Assessment and Decision

Based on plagiarism, similarity, and AI-use screening, the editorial team may take one or more of the following actions:

1. Proceed with the manuscript to the editorial and peer-review process;
2. Request clarification from the authors;
3. Request revision and reduction of inappropriate similarity;
4. Request disclosure or clarification regarding AI-assisted content;
5. Reject the manuscript when significant plagiarism, unethical AI use, fabrication, or other serious breaches of publication ethics are identified; or
6. Take further action in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policy if misconduct is identified after publication.

The final decision is not based solely on the percentage generated by similarity detection software. The editorial team considers the nature, source, context, and extent of detected similarities, as well as the nature and extent of AI-assisted content.

MCHU reserves the right to investigate suspected academic misconduct at any stage of the editorial or publication process.