Submission Guidelines and Manuscript Preparation

This comprehensive guideline provides authors with everything needed to successfully prepare, structure, and submit a manuscript to the Clinical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (CJOG). It includes detailed instructions, examples, templates, formatting guidance, ethical requirements, OJS submission steps, checklists, illustrative samples, and best-practice recommendations aligned with COPE, ICMJE, WAME, CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE, and CARE standards.

General Submission Requirements

Authors must ensure that all manuscripts:

• Are entirely original works not previously published.
• Have not been submitted to another journal simultaneously.
• Are written in professional English (US style preferred).
• Follow the manuscript structure defined below.
• Are submitted as a single .doc/.docx file along with separate figure files.
• Include complete metadata on the OJS platform (authors, ORCID, affiliations, abstract, keywords, references).

OJS Submission Process (Step-by-Step)

The CJOG online submission system (OJS) requires authors to complete each step carefully.

Step 1: Register or Log In

Authors must create an account with accurate contact and institutional information.

Step 2: Start a New Submission

Select the section (Research Article, Review, Case Report, etc.) and confirm compliance with:

• Ethical responsibilities
• Plagiarism requirements
• Formatting and structure

Step 3: Upload Submission Files

• Main manuscript (Word file)
• Figures uploaded separately
• Supplementary files (optional)

Step 4: Enter Metadata

Including:

• Full title
• Short running title (≤50 characters)
• Full author list
• Affiliations
• Corresponding author details
• References
• ORCID iDs (recommended)

Step 5: Confirm & Submit

After verifying all components, submit for editorial assessment.

Manuscript Preparation: Detailed Structure

1. Title Page

• Title (concise and descriptive)
• Author names and order
• Affiliations (department, institution, country)
• Corresponding author contact
• ORCID iDs
• Acknowledgments
• Funding information
• Conflict of interest declaration

Title: Impact of Gestational Diabetes on Neonatal Outcomes: A Multi-Center Study

Authors:
   Dr. Jane R. Matthews, MD¹
   Dr. David K. Logan, PhD²

Affiliations:
   ¹ Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital, London, UK
   ² Department of Statistical Medicine, Boston Medical Center, USA

Corresponding Author:
   Dr. Jane R. Matthews
   Email: [email protected]
   ORCID: 0000-0002-9876-5321

Funding: Supported by UK Medical Research Council (Grant #MRC-2022-09).

Conflict of Interest: None declared.
  

2. Abstract

Research articles must include a structured abstract (250–300 words) with:

• Background
• Objective
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusion

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased risk of 
neonatal complications.

Objective: To evaluate neonatal outcomes among women diagnosed with GDM.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 312 pregnant women across three tertiary care 
hospitals. Data were analyzed using multivariate regression.

Results: Infants born to mothers with GDM had significantly higher rates of macrosomia 
(p<0.01) and NICU admissions (p<0.05).

Conclusion: GDM is strongly associated with adverse neonatal outcomes and requires 
proactive management strategies.
  

3. Keywords

Provide 5–6 keywords using MeSH terms when applicable.

4. Introduction

The introduction should:

• Set context and relevance
• Highlight gaps in literature
• State research objectives clearly

5. Materials and Methods

Your methodology must be replicable and transparent.

Include:

• Study design and setting
• Participants (selection criteria, exclusion)
• Sample size calculations
• Statistical and analytical methods
• Approved IRB number
• Clinical trial registration details

6. Results

Present objective findings with appropriate tables and figures.

7. Discussion

Interpret findings, acknowledge limitations, compare with literature.

8. Conclusion

Provide clear take-home messages and implications for practice.

9. References (Vancouver Style)

Follow the NLM/Vancouver format strictly.

Smith A, Logan DK. Maternal obesity and fetal outcomes. CJOG. 2022;11(3):145–152.
  

10. Figures & Tables

Figures:

• 300+ dpi resolution
• PNG, JPEG, TIFF, or SVG formats
• Separate file uploads
• Numbered sequentially
• Descriptive captions

Tables:

• Editable (Word tables preferred)
• Clear headings and numbering
• No images of tables

11. Supplementary Materials

Allowed formats include:

• CSV, XLSX datasets
• High-resolution images
• Videos (MP4)
• Additional figures and appendices

Ethical Requirements

Human Studies

• IRB approval mandatory
• Informed consent statement required

Case Reports

A signed patient consent form must be available.

Animal Studies

• Institutional animal ethics approval required
• ARRIVE guidelines must be followed

Data Availability Requirements

All manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement specifying:

• Where datasets can be accessed
• Whether data is restricted (privacy, legal constraints)

AI Usage Policy for Authors

Authors must disclose all use of AI tools for:

• Editing
• Grammar assistance
• Concept summarization

AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

Preprint Policy

Preprints are allowed on:

• medRxiv
• bioRxiv
• Research Square
• OSF

Sample Cover Letter

Dear Editor-in-Chief,
Clinical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (CJOG)

Please find attached our manuscript titled “Maternal Nutrition and Risk of 
Preterm Birth: A Multicenter Analysis.”

We confirm that:
 • The manuscript is original and not under review elsewhere.
 • All authors approved the submission.
 • IRB approval was obtained (IRB #2023-221).
 • There are no conflicts of interest.
 • Data supporting results are available upon request.

We believe the manuscript aligns with the journal’s scope and offers 
significant insights into maternal health.

Sincerely,
Dr. Julia Ivan, MD
University of Copenhagen
Email: [email protected]
  

Submission Dos & Don’ts

Do

• Use consistent terminology
• Check references for accuracy
• Use standardized reporting guidelines
• Proofread thoroughly before submission

Don’t

• Submit multiple versions simultaneously
• Include patient identifiers
• Manipulate images beyond clarity improvements
• Use AI-generated references without validation

Final Submission Checklist

Conclusion

These guidelines ensure that manuscripts submitted to CJOG are scientifically sound, ethically compliant, and formatted for efficient peer review. Following these instructions meticulously enhances quality, accelerates editorial processing, and improves the likelihood of acceptance.