Jurnal Lentera Kesehatan Masyarakat (JLKM) uses double-blind peer review: author identities are concealed from reviewers, and reviewer identities are concealed from authors. Each manuscript that passes editorial screening is assessed by at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise.

Review Stages

1. Initial editorial screening. Editors check scope, completeness, anonymisation, format, originality, ethical declarations, and minimum scholarly quality. Similarity-detection results or equivalent editorial checks are assessed in context and are not used as an automatic decision threshold.
2. Reviewer selection. Reviewers are selected for subject expertise and independence. They must disclose conflicts of interest, maintain confidentiality, and decline an assignment when a conflict or lack of expertise could affect the review.
3. Independent assessment. Reviewers evaluate originality, methods, research ethics, reporting quality, interpretation, references, and relevance. Reviews should be objective, constructive, and supported by clear reasons.
4. Editorial decision. The handling editor considers the reviews and makes a decision: reject, major revision, minor revision, or accept. An additional reviewer may be invited when reports materially conflict or further expertise is required.
5. Revision and final assessment. Authors should respond point by point and identify changes. Revised manuscripts may be returned to reviewers. Acceptance is based on scholarly and ethical criteria, not on payment of the APC.

Confidentiality and Appeals

Manuscripts, reviewer reports, and editorial correspondence are confidential. An editor or reviewer may not use unpublished material for personal advantage. Authors who believe a decision involved a procedural or substantive error may appeal in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics policy by contacting staff@jurnalkesmas.co.id.