The Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS is a six monthly peer-reviewed journal that publishes articles related to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.

The journal allows free access (Open Access) and follows a double-blind review process, wherein the reviewers and authors are unaware of each other’s identity. Every manuscript is also assigned to a member of the editorial team, who based on the comments from the reviewers takes a final decision on the manuscript. The comments and suggestions (acceptance/ rejection/ amendments in manuscript) received from reviewers are conveyed to the corresponding author. If required, the author is requested to provide a point by point response to reviewers’ comments and submit a revised version of the manuscript. This process is repeated till reviewers and editors are satisfied with the manuscript.

The journal does not charge for submission and processing of the manuscripts.
 

Manuscript

Manuscripts should be sent by uploading to our manuscript processing system http://journalonweb.com/ijstd.

• It will be presumed that the articles sent for publication in the journal have not been and will not be published elsewhere and are subject to editorial revision.
• Manuscripts should be type-written on one side of the paper in double spacing with ample margins, the first copy preferably on bond paper. Font size should be 12.
• A manuscript should be divided into the following sections, each beginning on a separate page: title page, abstract and key words, introduction, material and methods, observations, discussion, acknowledgements, references, tables, figures, and legends (each on a separate page).
All the pages should be numbered consecutively beginning with the title page.

Title page: This page should carry the title of the article; the names of all contributors and their professional affiliations; the name, address, phone numbers and email address of the corresponding contributor.

Abstract page: The second page should carry the full title of the manuscript and an abstract of up to 250 words for studies and up to 100 words for case reports. Below the abstract, key words, key message should be included.

Introduction: Summarize the rationale and purpose of the study.

Material and Methods: Describe the method, apparatus and procedure of the study

Observations / Results: Do not repeat in the text all the data in the tables or illustrations. Emphasize only important observations.

Discussion: Discuss the conclusions that follow from the study. Do
not repeat in detail data or other material given in the Introduction
or Results section.

Acknowledgments: Include only necessary acknowledgments.

References: Only papers closely related to the author’s works should be referred to. References must be identified by Arabic numerals in the text and in the list of references they should be numbered in the consecutive order in which they first appeared in the text. The reference should be quoted as follows:

1. Handa F and Ahmed MF. Electrocardiographic changes in secondary syphilis.
   
   Indian J Dermatol Vener Lepr 1980;46:108-9
   
   Where there are five or more authors, only the names of the first three should be given followed by et al.
   
   For books, the author’s names and initials, full title, edition, place of publication, should be given in that order. Where a chapter in a book is referred to, the reference should be quoted as follows:
2. Wand ME and Watt PJ. Studies on the cell biology of gonorrhea. In: Danielsson D, Juhlin L and Mordha PA (eds). Genital Infection and their complications. Stockholm, Almquist and Wiksell 1975;229-41 For references taken from internet, the author’s name, title of article, last updated on, available from, last accessed on (year, month, date) should be written
3. KoKo Aung. Bacillary angiomatosis (last updated on March 30, 2006). Available from:http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic196.htm. [last accessed on 2007 July 15th].

• Studies: This includes clinical trials, epidemiological studies, clinical studies and studies of diagnostic tests or surveys that are between 1000 and 2500 words in length (excluding references and abstract).
   
• Case Reports: Reports of an unusual manifestation of a disease or a new disease that are about 1000 words and up to 10 references. Case reports on non venereal genital condition is also invited.
   
• Review Article: Systematic critical assessments of literature and data sources of about 3000 words should be submitted only after consulting the Editor regarding the topic.
   
• Residents’ Page: Short articles (up to 1000 words) that are educational for postgraduates or help improve their learning skills or ability to perform in examinations would be considered.
   
• Letters to the Editor: These should normally be no more than 500 words in length and up to 5 references.
   
• Quiz: Classical cases with one to three good photographs will be considered. A short history, examination and investigation findings (up to 150 words) should be followed by the answer in the form of the diagnosis and a short review of the condition.

Appendix I

Covering letter and other documents: The covering letter must be made including the following points and stating the title of the paper and signed by all authors. For online submissions, the covering letter inclusive of copyright transfer form and, with other permissions or consents (if any) must reach editorial office within 15 days of submitting the article online. Covering letter must state about:

Authorship: All the authors have contributed enough towards this publication to justify authorship criteria.

Copyright: We transfer all copyright ownership of the enclosed manuscript to the Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS if it is accepted for publication. We warrant that this paper is original and has not been in part or in whole simultaneously submitted to or published in another journal.

Sources of support: For studies, add ‘This study was supported (or not supported) financially or otherwise (specify) by……………..’

Conflict of interest: There is no conflict of interest of any of the authors with the results of the study. In case of conflict of interest exists, please elaborate.

Permission: Copy of permission(s), if any, to produce published material is enclosed

Patient’s consent: The patient’s consent to use photographs that may reveal the identity of the patient is enclosed.

 Copyright

The entire contents of the Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS are protected under Indian and international copyrights. The Journal, however, grants to all users a free, irrevocable, worldwide, perpetual right of access to, and a license to copy, use, distribute, perform and display the work publicly and to make and distribute derivative works in any digital medium for any reasonable non-commercial purpose, subject to proper attribution of authorship and ownership of the rights. The journal also grants the right to make small numbers of printed copies for their personal non-commercial use under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 Unported License.

Identifying information should not be published in written descriptions, photographs, sonograms, CT scans, etc., and pedigrees unless the information is essential for scientific purposes and the patient (or parent or guardian, wherever applicable) gives informed consent for publication. Authors should remove patients' names from figures unless they have obtained informed consent from the patients. The journal abides by ICMJE guidelines:

1) Authors, not the journals nor the publisher, need to obtain the patient consent form before the publication and have the form properly archived. The consent forms are not to be uploaded with the cover letter or sent through email to editorial or publisher offices.

2) If the manuscript contains patient images that preclude anonymity, or a description that has obvious indication to the identity of the patient, a statement about obtaining informed patient consent should be indicated in the manuscript.

Checklist for submission of articles to IJSTD for online submission

1. Prepare first page file
    
2. Prepare article file including legends to photographs. Do not include author names or affiliations or correspondence address in any part of the article file
 
3. Scan photographs and save as jpeg fi les of less than 100 KB each
 
4. Register as an author at the website www.journalonweb.com/ijstd (not needed if you have registered earlier)
 
5. Follow instruction for submission in your work area
 
6. Fill up the authorship responsibility form, copyright form and other appropriate documents given in appendix I above and send them by post to editorial office along with photoprints/ slides or CD of original digital photfiles (of resolution at least 1200×2400).
 
7. On receipt of an email regarding acceptance or revision, log in as an author and do the needful as per the editor’s remarks.