Aims & Scope
International Journal of Neonatology (IJNE) publishes original research, systematic reviews, and clinical innovations advancing neonatal health outcomes through evidence-based medicine, surgical techniques, critical care interventions, and developmental neuroscience.
Core Research Domains
Neonatal Critical Care Tier 1
- Respiratory support strategies (mechanical ventilation, CPAP, high-flow oxygen)
- Hemodynamic monitoring and cardiovascular management
- Sepsis prevention, diagnosis, and antimicrobial stewardship
- Neonatal resuscitation protocols and outcomes
- Thermoregulation and hypothermia management
- NICU quality improvement initiatives
"Randomized trial comparing non-invasive ventilation strategies for preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome: impact on bronchopulmonary dysplasia rates"
Prematurity & Developmental Care Tier 1
- Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) and very low birth weight (VLBW) outcomes
- Neurodevelopmental follow-up and long-term sequelae
- Neonatal nutrition (enteral, parenteral, human milk fortification)
- Growth monitoring and metabolic bone disease
- Retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment
- Developmental care practices and family-centered interventions
"Longitudinal assessment of cognitive and motor outcomes in ELBW infants at 2 years corrected age: association with early nutritional practices"
Neonatal Neurology & Brain Injury Tier 1
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and therapeutic hypothermia
- Neonatal seizures: diagnosis, monitoring, and management
- Intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia
- Neonatal stroke and cerebrovascular disorders
- Neuroimaging (cranial ultrasound, MRI, amplitude-integrated EEG)
- Neuroprotective strategies and neurorehabilitation
"Predictive value of early amplitude-integrated EEG patterns for neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE treated with therapeutic hypothermia"
Neonatal Surgery & Perioperative Care Tier 1
- Congenital anomalies requiring surgical intervention (gastroschisis, diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia)
- Necrotizing enterocolitis: medical and surgical management
- Neonatal anesthesia safety and pain management
- Postoperative critical care and complications
- Minimally invasive surgical techniques in neonates
- Surgical outcomes and long-term morbidity
"Outcomes of primary peritoneal drainage versus laparotomy for necrotizing enterocolitis in extremely preterm infants: a multicenter cohort study"
Secondary Focus Areas
Neonatal Pharmacology
Drug dosing, pharmacokinetics, safety profiles, and therapeutic drug monitoring in neonates. Off-label medication use and adverse drug reactions.
Neonatal Hematology
Anemia, thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, transfusion practices, and hemolytic disease of the newborn.
Neonatal Endocrinology
Hypoglycemia, thyroid disorders, adrenal insufficiency, and disorders of sexual development in the neonatal period.
Neonatal Immunology & Infectious Diseases
Congenital infections (TORCH), early-onset and late-onset sepsis, immunodeficiencies, and neonatal immunization strategies.
Perinatal Epidemiology
Population-based studies of neonatal mortality, morbidity trends, risk factor analysis, and health disparities in neonatal outcomes.
Fetal-to-Neonatal Transition
Fetal medicine interventions with direct neonatal implications, prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies, and maternal-fetal medicine collaborations affecting postnatal care.
Neonatal Dermatology
Skin barrier function, neonatal rashes, congenital skin disorders, and wound care in preterm infants.
Neonatal Screening Programs
Newborn screening for metabolic, genetic, and sensory disorders. Hearing and vision screening protocols and follow-up outcomes.
Emerging & Cross-Disciplinary Areas
Explicitly Out of Scope
We Do NOT Consider:
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General Pediatrics Beyond Neonatal Period
Rationale: Our scope is limited to the first 28 days of life (neonatal period). Studies of infants >28 days without specific neonatal focus should be submitted to general pediatrics journals.
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Obstetric Management Without Direct Neonatal Outcomes
Rationale: Maternal care, labor management, and obstetric interventions are only considered when directly linked to neonatal health outcomes. Pure obstetric studies belong in maternal-fetal medicine journals.
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Adult or Adolescent Medicine
Rationale: IJNE focuses exclusively on neonatal populations. Studies of older children, adolescents, or adults are outside our scope regardless of topic relevance.
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Infertility Treatment & Assisted Reproduction
Rationale: While we consider fetal medicine with neonatal implications, pre-conception care, IVF techniques, and fertility treatments are outside our scope. Submit to reproductive medicine journals.
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Purely Theoretical or Opinion-Based Manuscripts Without Data
Rationale: We prioritize evidence-based research. Opinion pieces, commentaries without systematic review methodology, and purely speculative manuscripts are rarely considered unless addressing critical ethical or policy issues.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Priority 1 Submissions
- Original Research Articles (clinical trials, cohort studies, case-control studies)
- Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
- Methods and Innovations (novel diagnostic or therapeutic techniques)
- Multicenter Collaborative Studies
Priority 2 Submissions
- Short Communications (preliminary findings, pilot studies)
- Data Notes (datasets, registries, biobanks)
- Clinical Perspectives and Practice Guidelines
- Quality Improvement Reports
- Educational Innovations in Neonatal Training
Rarely Considered
- Case Reports (only if exceptionally rare or novel)
- Case Series (<10 cases, unless addressing emerging condition)
- Letters to the Editor (must provide substantial new data or critical analysis)
- Narrative Reviews (systematic reviews preferred)
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
All submissions must adhere to appropriate reporting standards based on study design. Checklists must be submitted with manuscript.
Research Ethics
IRB/Ethics committee approval required for all human subjects research. Informed consent documentation must be provided. Animal studies must follow ARRIVE guidelines.
Data Transparency
We encourage data sharing through public repositories. Clinical trial registration (ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN) required for interventional studies. Raw data availability statement mandatory.
Preprint Policy
Preprint posting on recognized servers (medRxiv, bioRxiv) is permitted and encouraged. Authors must disclose preprint DOI at submission. Final published version supersedes preprint.
Editorial Decision Metrics
Our commitment to authors: transparent, efficient, and rigorous peer review
Ready to Submit Your Research?
If your manuscript aligns with our scope and meets our editorial standards, we invite you to submit. Our editorial team provides constructive feedback to all authors, regardless of decision outcome.
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