Editorial
José da Rocha Carvalheiro
For decades, Brazilian professionals in the field of epidemiology working at universities, research institutes or health services, have felt the lack of a specialized journal. It seemed to all that a proper vehicle of expression would lead to the consolidation of a "Brazilian way" of work in epidemiology. Intuitively, we imagined that a proper journal should be capable of overcoming our curse of being better (and much better) than what our scarce production published in peer reviewed and broad circulation journals would make one think. The late Cecília Donnangelo, a social scientist, interpreted such fate saying: "we're rather actors than authors".
Of course, each one had a definition of what is unique about our epidemiology. Let us think about the precursors from the XIX century, especially those who lived around the turn to the XX century. With the emergence of experimental and field investigation in health sciences, a model was shaped, which extended beyond the patient's bed and laid the deep roots of interdisciplinary approach. Several groups have contributed to the development of our particular way of making science. A friendly competition was established, and research centers, today still active, were created. The farther or nearer field investigation was to the hospital or out patient units and to basic biomedical research lead to diverse ways of organizing the production of knowledge. Therefore, the different minds that formulated the maxims of "our epidemiology" remind us of the Hydra with its many heads.
Assuming such multiplicity, we could not vulgarize the long nursed proposal of editing an ABRASCO journal specialized in epidemiology. After all, the association convenes all professionals in the area, both from the academy and services. We could not incur into the error of turning the journal into the vehicle of the ideas of one of the tendencies of Brazilian (and world's) epidemiology. The journal should be a collection of the relevant production in the area, and do its best to make it public, without any ideological or epistemological biases. It should base its editorial policy on the quality and relevance of the contribution, and on peer review, with rigorous editorial critique.
To attend the longing for broad circulation abroad, two kinds of measures were taken. The first one, regarding language. To recognize the reality of English as the contemporary world's free language does not represent submission to any kind of cultural colonialism. The reality of Latin American economic, political and cultural integration has also been recognized. It is not by chance that a Latin American epidemiology is already recognized outside the continent. It has been decided to accept articles and contributions in three languages: Portuguese, Spanish and English, with an extended summary in English every time the main text is written in one of the two other languages. The second measure was aimed at circulation and active search for authors. A broad advertising campaign was launched through international vehicles. There is no contradiction, if we want to be read outside, we must open our scientific debate vehicles to outside contributions. Modern communication media, which have already invaded the sphere of science, are there to be used.
In order to materialize these ideas, an arduous journey was undertaken: weekly meetings among the Editors and the Epidemiology Commission, the Executive Secretariat and ABRASCO's Board of Directors itself. Such complex process took more than a year. The choice of the journal's name was much more turbulent than we had expected. It raised greater controversy than did the composition of the Editorial Board: scientific, adjunct and associate editors, and the advisory team. Finally, these ideas were made public, with the publication of an advertising leaflet, which is the record of an important moment in Brazilian epidemiology:
At the same time decisive steps concerning the core of the journal were being taken, the search for contributions began. It was decided not to publish a "number zero" issue with recommended articles. To order an article means, almost certainly, the obligation to publish it, otherwise it is not an order. Instead, we preferred to encourage potential authors to submit their contributions, without any commitment to automatic publication. Such procedure is safer, although lengthier. A submitted paper does not take less than six to eight months to go through all the required steps, at least during these preliminary phases when we are establishing the routine and "carpentry" of the journal.
We have counted on the support of several people and institutions, some of which must be mentioned. First, the journal's secretary, Maria Luiza Ernandez, who has lent her dedication and expertise to the task of making operational the ideas as they were conceived. Among her suggestions were the composition of a technical group for review, translation and norms. The School of Public Health of the University of São Paulo, where the journal is based, with all the facilities provided by its board of directors. The authors of the graphic project, including the advertising leaflet, of extraordinary good taste. Finally, the organisms of ABRASCO itself, and the sponsoring agency, CENEPI (National Epidemiolgy Center) of the Ministry of Health.
The flow of contributions, slow in the beginning, has been picking up speed with time. Although the launching of the first issue has been later than originally expected, we believe that publicity was effective and responsible for the continuous flow of articles. Referees themselves, recruited by indication of the Associate Editors, have probably spread the news. After all, no one else but them, to best announce that the journal was alive, although it had not yet come to light. Delivery was slow, but eutocic. At least, as far as following the rules of the game was concerned. The authors whose papers were "appreciated" were the first ones to know: their articles were to be published in the inaugural issue after having anonymously circulated among peers.
This first issue reflects the long road that was described above; it is comprised of articles that express the thematic diversity with which editors, authors and readers are bound to live. It is auspicious that, without any special effort, the first issue already brings articles in the two official languages. The editorial board hopes that papers submitted by professionals of the area fit into the editorial philosophy. Above all, we are looking forward to receiving suggestions, criticism and comments related to the project of implementing the journal, which has been conceived as a collective enterprise.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
02 Aug 2005 -
Date of issue
Apr 1998
