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Guidelines

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Authors are urged to adhere to the following guidelines when developing and submitting their abstracts:

Requirements for abstracts

In this conference, an abstract is a stand-alone scientific statement that briefly explains the essential information of a study, research project, policy or programme. Researchers should select a track for their abstract and choose one option during the submission process:

General instructions:

  • Abstracts should be submitted in English Language
  • Author(s) can submit at most five (5) abstracts but an author will be allowed to present if all five get accepted, and will have to assign the rest to co-authors to present.
  • The abstract should not exceed 350 words, excluding titles
  • The abstract title should not exceed 20 words
  • Abstracts should have a title, name(s) of author(s), author(s) affiliation(s), a maximum of five (5) keywords, and contacts (email address) of the corresponding author.
  • Abstract submission deadline: 14 July 2021, at 11:59pm, South African Standard Time.

Submission options:

OPTION 1

The option is suited for research already conducted in all disciplines. Abstracts on ongoing or proposed/planned research will not be accepted, unless ongoing research presents preliminary data/findings. Abstracts submitted under this option should be structured and contain concise statements of:

  • Introduction/Background: Indicate the purpose and objective of the research, the hypothesis that was tested or a description of the problem being analyzed or evaluated.
  • Methods: Describe the study period, setting/location, study design, study population, sampling, data collection, and statistical analysis conducted.
  • Key findings/Results: Present clearly and in as much detail as possible the findings/outcome of the study. Specific results should be summarized.
  • Conclusions/recommendations: Explain briefly, the significance of the findings/outcomes of the study to COVID-19 prevention, treatment, care and/or support, and implications of the results.

OPTION 2:

The option is suited for lessons learned through programmatic, routine or project implementation or management. Option 2 is most suited for presenting best practices, new knowledge or analyses that are important for understanding and strengthening public health, policy issues, investing in health, and multi-sectoral response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstracts on ongoing or proposed/planned projects will not be accepted, unless ongoing projects present preliminary data/findings. Abstracts submitted under the second option should contain concise statements of:

  • Background/Issues: A summary of the issue(s) addressed by the abstract, or a description of the problem being analysed or evaluated.
  • Description: A description of the intervention, project or policy period, experience, service and/or advocacy including the setting/location, design, methods of evaluation used, affected/key population (if applicable), activities and intervention undertaken in support of the program, project or policy.
  • Lessons learned: Present clearly and in as much detail as possible the specific findings / outcomes of the programme, project or policy; include an analysis or evaluation of lessons learned and best practices. Specific results that support lessons learned and best practices should be summarized.
  • Conclusion/Next steps: Explain the significance of the findings/outcomes of the programme, project or policy for COVID-19 response including prevention, treatment, care and/or support, and future implications of the results.

Review process

All submitted abstracts will go through a blind peer-review process carried out by a team of experts in the field of research. Reviewers will be required to sign Confidentiality Agreement Forms to ensure confidentiality in the review process. The following review procedures shall apply:

  • Abstract scores are confidential and will not be shared with researchers/authors.
  • Each abstract will be allocated to three (3) reviewers.
  • Each abstract will receive scores on five pre-determined criteria, each criterion is rated on a scale of 1-5, where 1 is the lowest score and 5 is the highest. The final score will be the average of the 5 scores from the pre-determined criteria.
  • Each criterion will have the same weight in the final score.
  • The final score will be translated into a written recommendation regarding selection.

Scoring criteria

Option 1Option 2
Is there a clear background and justified objective?Is the methodology/study design appropriate for the objectives? Does the method section include all the components mentioned in the abstract call?Are the results clearly presented and inline with the objectives?Are the conclusions supported by the results? Does the abstract present implications?Is the study original, and does it contribute to the field?  Is there a clear background and justified objective?Are the programme, project or policy design and implementation appropriate for the objectives?Are the lessons learned or best practices important, supported by the findings and clearly presented?Are the conclusions/next steps supported by the results and are they feasible?  

Conference Participants

This will be a virtual conference with the expectation of about 300 delegates or more. These comprise policymakers, health care professionals, programmers, researchers both from within and outside Eswatini and the general public.

Format & Content of the conference will include the following:

  1. Abstract driven oral presentations
  2. Plenary sessions
  3. Documentaries

Documenting conference proceedings

  • Report compilation and video recording
  • Reporting and documentation

Conference dates

  • Conference Launch by the Honourable Minister for Health, Date: 14 June 2021
  • Abstract Submission Opening date: 14 June 2021 1:00 pm, South African Standard Time
  • Abstract Submission Closing date: 14 July 2021, 11:59pm, South African Standard Time
  • Conference date:12 – 13 Aug 2021.

Questions?

More information can be obtained from the NHRID website. If you have questions or need assistance please do not hesitate to contact the conference secretariate, specifically:

Mr. Trevor Sithole: sibonangay@gmail.com (+264 24040865)

Ms Simangele Dlamini: kaluamasi@gmail.com (+268 24040865)