The Health Press is an open-access and peer-reviewed public health bulletin published by the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI). It was founded with the mission of offering a forum for the exchange and dissemination of public health-related research and knowledge in Zambia and around the world. Its goals include spreading information on Zambia's public health security status and guiding policy direction on health security in the country.

Access

The Health Press is a free open access publication. Readers may download, use, reproduce or reprint any content published in the bulletin so long proper citation and attribution is provided. 

Publication Fees

Publishing in the Health Press is free of charge.

Content Types

An issue of the Health Press typically publishes research articles, outbreak investigations, field notes and epidemiological bulletin integrated disease surveillance response reports.

Publication Schedule

Issues are published quarterly on this website.

Our Mission

• • Exchange and dissemination of public health research and knowledge.

  • Spread information on Zambia's public health security status

  • Guide policy direction on health security in the country

  • Provide open access to public health information

  • Support evidence-based public health decision making

Criteria for Publication 

1. Appropriateness
   Submissions should focus on original research, disease outbreak investigations, public health surveillance activities, or interventions aimed at detecting, preventing, or responding to public health events in Zambia. Articles must be relevant to a wide range of stakeholders, including district, national, and global public health professionals, policymakers, clinicians, researchers, academics, and both traditional and social media audiences.
2. Originality
   Submissions must present original content. Articles should not reproduce previously published information, including existing guidelines or recommendations. All articles will be subjected to plagiarism checks using appropriate software.
3. Scientific Quality
   Articles must be grounded in sound scientific methodology and supported by sufficient and relevant data to address the public health issue under consideration. Appropriate guidelines need to be followed, such as STROBE for observational studies, CONSORT for randomised clinical trials, and PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
4. Timeliness
   Submissions should include the most current data available from surveillance systems, surveys, or studies. Priority is given to articles based on ongoing or recently completed investigations. Data currency requirements are as follows:
   
   • Outbreak investigations: Data should be no more than 10 months old at the time of submission.
   • Surveillance data: Should not be more than 10 years old.
   • Other types of data: Should be no older than 3 years.
5. Clarity
   Manuscripts should follow the principles of plain language (see: plainlanguage.gov). Content should be concise, well-organized, and written with the reader in mind. Use terminology that is appropriate for both local and international audiences. Minimize the use of acronyms and abbreviations, and ensure they are clearly defined on first use.

Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to The Health Press must initially be screened and approved by the editorial team. Once screened and approved, manuscripts will be forwarded for double-blinded peer review by a subject-matter expert, in which both the authors’ and reviewers’ identities are concealed. Authors will be invited to respond to reviewers' comments within a stipulated time frame. Acceptance for publication will be based on the recommendations of at least three (3) reviewers and the editorial team following completion of the review process. Final approval for publication will be granted by the Editor-in-Chief.