Plagiarism Policy

Why Original Work Matters

At the International Journal of HIV and AIDS Sciences, we publish research because we believe it advances medical knowledge and helps improve patient care. That only works if what we publish is genuine — original contributions that add something real to the field.

Original thinking is hard. Good research takes time, effort, and often years of work. Authors who do that work deserve credit for it. And readers deserve to know they're reading something authentic, not recycled or borrowed without attribution.

What Exactly Is Plagiarism?

Put simply, plagiarism is taking someone else's ideas, words, data, or findings and presenting them as your own — without giving proper credit. It can range from copying entire passages to subtly borrowing concepts without acknowledgment.

This includes copying text verbatim, paraphrasing too closely, borrowing ideas without citation, and reusing figures or data without permission or proper attribution. It also includes self-plagiarism — recycling your own previously published work without disclosure.

Forms of Plagiarism We Watch For

Direct copying: Taking text from a source and using it word-for-word without quotation marks or citation. This is the most obvious form.

Patchwork plagiarism: Stitching together phrases and sentences from multiple sources, perhaps with some rewording, to create something that appears original but isn't.

Idea plagiarism: Using someone's original concept, theory, or interpretation without credit — even if you've expressed it in your own words.

Self-plagiarism: This one surprises some authors. Reusing substantial portions of your own previously published work — without disclosure — can mislead readers into thinking they're seeing new material. It also raises copyright issues if your earlier work was published elsewhere.

How We Check

Pre-check / Pre-scanning

We don't run every submission through plagiarism detection software immediately — there's little point in checking a paper that might be rejected for other reasons. But manuscripts that pass initial editorial review undergo screening before being sent to reviewers, and again before final acceptance.

Our reviewers also play a role here. They're experts in their fields and often recognize borrowed content that software might miss. We ask them to flag anything that seems familiar or improperly attributed.

What Happens If We Find Plagiarism

Before publication: If plagiarism is detected during review, the manuscript is rejected. We won't consider it further, and we may contact the authors to explain our concerns.

After publication: If plagiarism comes to light after an article has been published, we take it seriously. The Editor-in-Chief investigates, usually in consultation with our ethics committee. Depending on severity, outcomes range from correction notices to full retraction.

In serious cases, we may also notify the author's institution and relevant professional bodies. We don't do this to be punitive — we do it because research integrity is a shared responsibility.

The Right Way to Use Others' Work

None of this means you can't build on existing research — of course you can. That's how science works. The key is proper attribution. If you're using someone's words, quote them and cite the source. If you're drawing on their ideas, explain that you're doing so and give credit.

Good citation practices don't diminish your contribution. They actually strengthen it by showing you understand the field and can position your work within it.

Author Responsibility

We strongly encourage authors to check their manuscripts for originality before submission. There are various tools available for this purpose, and many institutions provide access to them.

Ultimately, authors bear full responsibility for the originality of their submissions. The editorial board is not liable for any such offenses committed by the author. When it comes to cases of plagiarism, legal protocols will be followed based on the severity of the offense. Every attempt will be made to resolve issues amicably, keeping the reputation of the journal, its authors, and the field in mind.

A Note on Open Access

As an open access journal, our content is freely available to readers worldwide. This openness comes with responsibilities — for us to publish original work, and for others to cite it properly when they build upon it.