The Journal of Human Lactation (JHL) publishes articles reporting original research, commentaries relating to human lactation and breastfeeding behavior, case reports relevant to the practicing lactation consultant and other health professionals who assist lactating mothers or their breastfeeding infants, debate on research methods for breastfeeding and lactation studies, and discussions of the business aspects of lactation consulting.

Manuscripts should be submitted electronically to http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jhl. Authors will be required to set up an online account on the SageTrack system powered by ScholarOne. Manuscripts will be sent out anonymously for editorial evaluation. All submissions should include suggested reviewers. Obtaining permission for any quoted or reprinted material that requires permission is the responsibility of the author. Submission of a manuscript implies commitment to publish in the journal. Authors submitting manuscripts to the journal should not simultaneously submit them to another journal, nor should manuscripts have been published elsewhere in substantially similar form or with substantially similar content. Authors in doubt about what constitutes prior publication should consult the Editor.

Article Categories

Original Research

Limit manuscripts to 4500 words, exclusive of tables, figures, and references. The manuscript should include (1) an unstructured abstract no longer than 150 words that includes a summary of the study objectives, findings, and conclusions; (2) an introduction including the background and purpose of the study; (3) methods including the study design, subject selection criteria, and statistical methods used (distinguish between infant feeding groups and/or use definitions of breastfeeding in Labbok M, Krasovec K. “Toward consistency in breastfeeding definitions.” Stud Fam Plann. 1990;21:226-230); (4) results reported in a concise and organized format; and (5) discussion of the importance of the findings reported in the results section and how they compare to other published reports of a similar nature.

Reviews

JHL welcomes concise and organized reviews on lactation-related topics. Contact the JHL editorial office with questions pertaining to appropriate review topics. Manuscript format is similar to Original Research above, as applicable.

Insights in Practice

Limit manuscripts to 2500 words, excluding table and reference pages. Manuscripts describing innovative teaching aids and procedures, charting, and referral forms specific to a lactation workup are appropriate for this column. We also invite general discussions about running a lactation consultant practice as well as contemporary insights related to clinical experience. The manuscript should include an unstructured abstract no longer than 125 words, an introduction stating the issue/problem, a presentation of the recommendations, and a summary of the information presented. Include subheadings as necessary.

Case Reports

Limit manuscripts to 2500 words, excluding table and reference pages. The report should consist of an unstructured abstract; a brief introduction, including review of the literature relating to the problem; the case presentation, including history of the problem and other pertinent information, clinical approach, and outcome; and discussion/recommendations regarding future investigations and/or assistance of future clients. Client confidentiality must be protected in the presentation.

Commentary

Perspectives related to timely issues in the field of human lactation are appropriate for this column. Limit commentaries to 2000 words, excluding table and reference pages. Commentaries do not have abstracts. It should be reflected in the title that the manuscript is a commentary.

Research Methods

Manuscripts describing novel research or debating research methods and issues specifically related to breastfeeding and lactation studies including ethics, sampling, study design, data collection, analysis, and presentation of data are appropriate for this column. Limit manuscripts to 2500 words, excluding table and reference pages. The manuscript should include an unstructured abstract no longer than 150 words, an introduction stating the need/application for the methodology, a presentation of the methodology, and a summary of the information presented. Include subheadings as necessary

Letters to the Editor

JHL readers are encouraged to exchange information or provide input related to a recently published journal article by submitting a letter to the editor. Letters must be typed, double spaced and should be no longer than 400 words. Additional space may be provided under special circumstances. Authors wishing to publish longer letters should contact the editor.

Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted (exclusive of letters to the editor)

Preparation of Manuscript

Acceptable English usage and syntax are expected. For guidance on manuscript writing style, refer to the American Medical Association Manual of Style, 10th ed. Do not use slang, medical jargon, or obscure abbreviations or phrasing. Metric measurement is preferred; equivalent English measurement may be included in parentheses. Always provide the complete form of an acronym/abbreviation the first time it is presented in the text. Write breast milk as two words, breastfeeding as one. Use generic names for drugs or devices; put trade names in parentheses.

Include the following components, each as a separate file:

Authorship/Cover Letter

JHL follows the guidelines for authorship as stated in the British Medical Journal. “The uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to medical journals state that authorship credit should be based only on substantial contribution to:

• conception and design, or analysis and interpretation of data
• drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content
• final approval of the version to be published.

All these conditions must be met. Participation solely in the acquisition of funding or the collection of data does not justify authorship.”

A cover letter containing the following language must be faxed to the editorial office (530-752-7582) at the time of submission:

"The contents of this manuscript are my/our original work and have not been published, in whole or in part, prior to or simultaneous with my/our submission of the manuscript to JHL. I/We acknowledge that simultaneous submission of the manuscript to more than one journal will result in automatic rejection for publication in JHL.In consideration of the action of Editor(s), on behalf of the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) and Sage Publications in reviewing and editing my/our submission titled_____, the undersigned contributor(s) hereby transfer, assign, and otherwise convey exclusively to ILCA, its successors and assigns, all copyright ownership in the event that such work is published in the Journal of Human Lactation (JHL). I/We acknowledge that Editor(s), ILCA, and Sage Publications are under no obligation to publish this manuscript. It is my/our understanding that said copyright ownership will revert to me/us if the manuscript is not published in JHL.

I/We expressly covenant, warrant, and represent that:
1. The manuscript does not infringe on any copyright. If copyrighted material is included in the manuscript, I/we have secured written permission for its publication in JHL prior to its submission.
2. The manuscript will be delivered to JHL free from any claims of any nature whatsoever and its publication will not subject Editor(s), ILCA, or Sage Publications to claims for payment to any third party.
3. The manuscript contents do not invade the right of privacy of any person and contain no libelous, obscene, or otherwise unlawful matter which would contravene any other rights of third persons.
4. I/We have the full right, power, and authority to make this agreement and to grant the rights herein granted, and Editor(s), ILCA, and Sage Publications are under no obligation to make an independent investigation to determine the truthfulness and accuracy of these representations and warranties."

Cover letters including such language must be submitted within 7 days of manuscript submission or the manuscript will be returned without review. Each author/contributor must sign and date the cover letter containing the above language.

Title Page

The title page should be submitted as a separate file and include (1) a clear and concise title; (2) the authors' full names and professional degrees; (3) affiliation of each author (position title, department, organization, or institution); (4) the name, mailing address, phone number, fax and e-mail address of author responsible for correspondence about the manuscript and e-mail addresses of all other authors; (5) source(s) of support, if applicable--funding from commercial enterprises, such as artificial baby milk manufacturers and makers of breastfeeding devices will be acknowledged without identifications as to brand name; (6) the name and address of author to whom correspondence should be addressed; (7) a brief (1- to 2-sentence) statement regarding each author's professional background; and (8) the summary statement and acknowledgements (see descriptions below). In order to ensure anonymous review of the manuscript, authors' names should only appear on the title page and nowhere else in the manuscript.

In order to ensure anonymous review of the manuscript, authors' names should only appear on the title page and nowhere else in the manuscript.

Summary Statement

The summary statement should be included on the title page. The summary statement should be a 2- to 3-sentence description of the key message of your article and its contribution to the literature that can be included in the table of contents as a quick reference for our readers.

EXAMPLE: Although mammary candidosis is often "diagnosed" by symptoms
alone, the association between symptoms and positive culture has not been
explored. This study provides results from sensitivity, specificity, and
positive predictive value calculations of symptoms commonly used to
identify mammary yeast infection.

Acknowledgments

Authors may acknowledge persons who have contributed to the research or manuscript development. Participation of research subjects may be acknowledged, but not specifically named. Limit acknowledgments to 50 words. Acknowledgements can be submitted as a separate file or on the title page.

Abstract and Keywords

The abstract should be unstructured and provide a brief overview of the study and its findings. In the abstract, summarize the objective of the study, basic procedures, main findings (including data and statistical significance), conclusions, and important implications/applications of the results presented. Limit abstracts to no more than 150 words. Three to 5 keywords or phrases for indexing must also be included.

Body of Paper

The text should be subdivided into sections as specified under the appropriate article category (Original Research, Insights in Practice, Case Reports, Commentary, etc.) Introductory paragraphs should not exceed 2 manuscript pages in length. Long manuscripts may need additional subheadings.

Ethics

When reporting research activities involving human or animal subjects, please include a statement indicating that all procedures followed were in accord with the ethical standards of the responsible institutional council, committee, or review board. Research articles without a clear statement of such approval will be returned without review.

References

Reference all quotations, previous study findings, and facts the reader may question. Personal communications and all other materials not yet accepted for publication may be mentioned only in the body of the manuscript. Number references consecutively as they appear in the text, using superscripts. Follow the American Medical Association style for references. Use journal abbreviations as listed in Index Medicus; if the periodical does not appear in Index Medicus, use a complete title. Citation examples follow:

Journal
Buckner E, Matsubara M. Support network utilization by breastfeeding mothers. J Hum Lact. 1993;9:231-235.

Book
Jelliffe DB, Jelliffe EFP. Human Milk in the Modern World: Psychosocial, Nutritional and Economic Significance. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; 1978.

Chapter in book
Kennedy KI. Fertility, sexuality and contraception during lactation. In: Riordan J, Auerbach KG, eds. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Boston, Mass: Jones and Bartlett; 1993:429-457.

Thesis or dissertation
Heinig MJ. Relationship of energy and protein intake and complementary feeding to growth patterns of breastfed and formula-fed infants. Davis, Calif: University of California; 1992. Dissertation.

Tables

Tables must be submitted as a separate file, not as part of the main document. Type each table double spaced on a separate page. Number tables consecutively as referred to in the text. Provide each table with a brief title and each column with a heading. Place explanatory matter in footnotes. Data incorporated from another source must be referenced or in a footnote.

Figures

Figures must be submitted as a separate file, not as part of the main document. Number all figures consecutively as referred to in the text. Submit all figures in the best reproductive quality.

Authors may be requested to replace poor-quality line illustrations at their own expense. Photographs of subjects will not be used unless accompanied by signed written consent from the subject and/or the minor's parent or guardian. If using a published figure, provide written permission for its use from the copyright holder; acknowledge the source in a footnote.

Peer Review and Editorial Process

Peer Review

Authors will receive a letter acknowledging receipt of their manuscripts. All submissions meeting editorial criteria with the exception of Letters are anonymously reviewed by experts appropriate for the manuscript. Manuscripts are reviewed for clarity, scientific validity, and their contribution to the field of breastfeeding and human lactation. After approximately 8 to 10 weeks, the author will receive a copy of the reviewers' comments along with a request for revisions or an editorial decision of acceptance or rejection. As a general policy, revised manuscripts are again reviewed by the original reviewers.

Declaration of Competing Interests

A competing interest exists when professional judgment concerning a primary interest, such as patients’ welfare or the validity of research, may be influenced by a secondary interest, such as financial gain or personal rivalry. A competing interest may arise when authors have a financial interest that may, in theory, influence their interpretations of given results or those of others.

When an article is accepted for publication in JHL, all authors will be asked to fill out a competing interests questionnaire. If such interests are identified, we will ask the primary author to draft a statement that will accompany the paper in publication. Should any competing interests become identified at a later date, such interests will be noted and published in JHL.

Editorial Processing

Accepted manuscripts are copyedited for style, grammar, and readability. Before an accepted manuscript can be published, all authors of the accepted manuscript must sign a Sage P