Siste publikasjoner - Avdeling for Samfunnsmedisin og global helse

• Yusuf, Mariam Florence (2026). COVID-19 Vaccination, Reproductive Vigilance, and the Afterlives of Extraction. Anthropology Today. ISSN 0268-540X. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Heen, Espen Kolstad; Kalvik, Skjalg Tønnessen; Clarke, Sara; Davis, Rachel C.; List, Saskia S. & Chappell, Kendal Gordon [Vis alle 10 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Design, methods and populations of the CURV-24 study: a global systematic review and meta-analysis of 24-h urine volume and creatinine excretion in community-dwelling adults. Frontiers in Public Health. 14, s. 1–17. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1892695. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Introduction Urinary biomarker concentrations are increasingly used to assess intake, exposure or excretion, often by applying pre-specified 24-h urine volume values or normalization to creatinine based on prediction-derived estimates. However, both urine volume and creatinine excretion rates can vary substantially by sex, BMI, protein and salt intake, ethnicity, food culture, and short- and long-term climate. Ignoring such population-level differences may bias temporal, spatial, and cross population comparisons and undermine the validity of fixed reference ranges. CURV-24 is a global systematic review and meta-analysis designed to investigate this variability and its determinants in community-dwelling populations. The aim of the current article is to present the design and methods of CURV-24. We further describe the included studies and populations. Taken together, readers should be positioned to assess the quality and representativeness of the study data in the forthcoming meta-analyses. Methods Using a broad, piloted syntax, we searched multiple bibliographic databases and registries (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, WHO Global Index Medicus, EBSCO Global Health, Cochrane, PROSPERO) without lan guage restrictions. Records published between 2015 and 2024 were investigated. We included primary studies with at least one timed 24-h urine collection from non-manipulated everyday conditions. Extensive efforts were made to identify companion reports and complementary datasets from authors and repositories. A tailored risk-of-bias and certainty-of-evidence framework, adapted from Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), was developed to address population, collection, and analytical biases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) and Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) have guided the development and reporting plans of the project. Results The final dataset comprises 212 studies from 71 countries and 234 national populations, including approximately 270,000 individuals, of whom three-quarters were studied after 2010. About half of the studies examined more than 200 participants and one third used census-based probability sampling. Complete subpopulation data by sex, age, location, and ethnicity are available from a substantial subset of studies. Discussion CURV-24 provides the most extensive synthesis to date of 24-h urine volume and creatinine excretion in populations worldwide. The project is positioned to improve hydration adjustment of urinary biomarkers, challenge fixed “one-size fits-all” assumptions and inform future best-practice guidelines in epidemiologi cal biomarker research. Looking ahead, CURV-24 has the potential to generate hypotheses on the relationship between climate and human hydration. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024495900 .

• Dalene, Knut Eirik; Lergenmuller, Simon; Stigum, Hein; Meyer, Haakon Eduard; Nystad, Wenche & Larsen, Inger Kristin [Vis alle 12 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Joint association of risk factor clustering and socioeconomic position with non-communicable disease mortality risk: a prospective cohort study of 576 299 Norwegian men and women in the NCDNOR project. BMJ Public Health. 4(2). doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2025-004101. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Introduction: Well-known non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors tend to cluster, forming groups with similar ‘risk factor phenotypes’. However, the characterisation of such clusters and the role of socioeconomic position (SEP) in modifying their associations with NCDs still remain unclear. Methods: We utilised data on smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride from health examination surveys conducted in Norwegian adults from 1974 to 2019 (n=5 76 299; age 20–65 years; 64% participation; 52% women) linked to registry data on education, income and mortality (follow-up through 2020). We identified risk factor clusters using latent profile analyses and used flexible parametric survival models to estimate differences in mean age at NCD death across sex, different birth years and SEP (education and income levels). Results: We identified four distinct clusters containing 44% (‘healthy’), 45% (‘suboptimal’), 4% (‘dyslipidaemics’) and 7% (‘hypertensives’) of the study sample, respectively. During a mean follow-up of 26 years, 61 241 died from an NCD. Compared with the cluster with the healthiest profile, other clusters had markedly shorter survival across sex and different birth cohorts. However, differences were also substantially modified by SEP: we estimated that individuals with primary education or low income died several years earlier than individuals with tertiary education or high income within each of the four risk factor clusters. Conclusions: Our findings show how NCD risk factors cluster and how SEP modifies the association between this clustering and NCD mortality. The substantial influence of SEP highlights the need for public health strategies that focus not only on changing behavioural and metabolic risk factors but also on addressing socioeconomic disparities to effectively reduce the burden of NCDs.

• Grefslie, Marianne Rørholt; Håberg, Siri Eldevik; Magnus, Maria Christine; Omsland, Tone Kristin & Magnus, Per Minor (2026). Parental asthma and childhood asthma phenotypes: maternal associations with persistent asthma. BMJ Open Respiratory Research. 13(1). doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2026-004245. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Maternal asthma has been more strongly associated with asthma in offspring than paternal asthma, but the influence of parental asthma on distinct asthma phenotypes remains unclear. Methods: We studied 16 055 children from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Parental asthma was reported at recruitment and classified as no parental asthma (reference), maternal asthma only, paternal asthma only or both parents with asthma. Offspring asthma was assessed at ages 3, 7 and 14 years through questionnaire-based parental reports, and four phenotypes were defined: never asthma, early-onset transient, early-onset persistent and late-onset asthma. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between parental asthma status and offspring phenotypes, adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle and atopic factors, including atopic eczema and pollen/hay fever. Results: Offspring asthma phenotypes were distributed as follows: never asthma 88.8%, early-onset transient asthma 3.3%, early-onset persistent asthma 2.7% and late-onset asthma 5.2%. Maternal asthma was associated with increased odds of all offspring asthma phenotypes: early-onset transient asthma (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.52 to 2.88), early-onset persistent asthma (OR 3.47, 95% CI 2.56 to 4.71) and late-onset asthma (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.69 to 2.81). Paternal asthma showed similar associations, although point estimates were generally smaller: early-onset transient asthma (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.73), early-onset persistent asthma (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.81 to 3.44) and late-onset asthma (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.38). Asthma in both parents was most strongly associated with early-onset persistent asthma (OR 5.34, 95% CI 2.86 to 9.98), whereas associations with early-onset transient and late-onset asthma were smaller and accompanied by wider CIs. The overall pattern of associations was similar across analyses stratified by parental atopy. Conclusions: Associations with maternal asthma were more pronounced than those with paternal asthma, particularly for early-onset persistent and late-onset phenotypes, although CIs overlapped for most comparisons. In contrast, early-onset transient asthma showed less differentiation by parental asthma status.

• Miltenburg, Andrea Solnes; Kiritta, Richard; Kidenya, Benson R.; Amoakoh, Hannah Brown; Schielen, Peter C.J.I. & Manyogote, Felix [Vis alle 15 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). PRESHA — Preventing severe hypertensive adverse events in pregnancy and childbirth: a study protocol for establishing a prospective cohort study and biobank in urban Tanzania. Frontiers in Global Women's Health. 7. doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2026.1812275. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Daele, Wim Van; Tadeo, Raul Yhossef Tito; Perera, Jennifer; Tshokey, Tshokey; Iversen, Per Ole & Jayasinghe, Saroj [Vis alle 12 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Toward ethical human microbiome research: improving health through radical interdisciplinary and intercultural co-laboration. Microbiome. 14. doi: 10.1186/s40168-026-02340-w. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract As human microbiome research is globalizing, it raises ethical concerns regarding the European and North American dominance in the field, which may reproduce a colonial bias and perpetuate inequities in global health research and outcomes. We suggest disentangling this ethical quandary into three main concerns: 1) scientific bias toward European and North American populations; 2) limited meaningful community inclusion, participation, and ownership, and 3) scant significant inclusion of diverse global researchers. We then formulate three recommendations for their resolution, deploying co-laboration —joint labor of diverse partners in generating synergies between diverse disciplines, cultures, and knowledges around shared concerns—and co-laborative science —a form of citizen science based on such synergies between diverse partners—to guide meaningful inclusive, participatory, and ethical human microbiome research. To conclude, we promote a programmatic list for putting co-laborative ethical science into practice, benefiting global communities, individuals, and researchers alike and decolonizing and improving health worldwide.

• Thorkildsen, Marianne Thorkildsen; Gustad, Lise Tuset; Åsvold, Bjørn Olav; Mohus, Randi Marie; Ellervik, Christina & Teumer, Alexander [Vis alle 11 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Thyroid function and risk of sepsis: a population-based prospective cohort study with traditional and genetic epidemiological analyses. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 17. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2026.1852413. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Santos, Sueny Paloma Lima dos; Guerrero-Vaca, Darío Javier; Vinueza-Veloz, Andrés Fernando; Navarrete-Veloz, Jhia; Carpio-Arias, Tannia Valeria & Veloz, Maria Fernanda Vinueza (2026). Psychometric Evaluation of the Spanish 10-Item Autism Spectrum Quotient Children’s Questionnaire in a Sample of Ecuadorian Children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. ISSN 0162-3257. doi: 10.1007/s10803-026-07419-9. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose The 10-item Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10) is widely used as a brief screening tool for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Its psychometric properties have not been examined in Spanish-speaking South American populations. This study evaluated the reliability, dimensionality, item functioning, and scalability of the parent-report Spanish AQ-10. Methods Data were drawn from Proyecto Guagua, a community-based study in Ecuador. An age-appropriate subsample of 295 children (ages 5–11 years) was assessed using the parent-report Spanish AQ-10. Reliability was assessed with Kuder-Richardson-20 (KR-20), standardized α and tetrachoric α. Dimensionality was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Item discrimination and difficulty were evaluated using exploratory item response theory (IRT), and scalability was assessed using Mokken scaling. Results Internal consistency was modest under binary scoring (KR-20 = 0.49; standardized α = 0.54) but improved when tetrachoric correlations were used (α = 0.73). CFA indicated suboptimal fit for a one-factor model. Item 2 consistently displayed negative discrimination (-0.104) and negligible factor loadings (~ -0.03). IRT analyses showed strong discrimination for a subset of items, particularly Items 3 and 6, whereas most items exhibited weak discrimination. Mokken scaling produced a low scalability coefficient (H < 0.30). In the analytic sample, 6.44% (n = 19) scored at or above the clinical cut-off of ≥ 6. Conclusions The Spanish AQ-10 did not meet conventional psychometric standards in this Ecuadorian community sample. These findings warrant local cultural adaptation and formal validation against clinical diagnoses before the AQ-10 can be recommended as ASD screening tool.

• McFarlane, Robert; Anneser, Johanna; Al-Chalabi, Ammar; Chiò, Adriano; Mcdermott, Christopher J. & Meyer, Thomas [Vis alle 14 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). The EQ-5D-5L in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an international longitudinal exploration as part of ALS-CarE. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration. ISSN 2167-8421. doi: 10.1080/21678421.2026.2715921. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lie, Anne Kveim & Skonnord, Trygve (2026). Helse for alle eller bare nesten alle? Erfaringer med helsehjelp til papirløse migranter. Michael. ISSN 1893-9651. 23(2), s. 125–125. doi: 10.5617/michael.13327. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  .Papirløse migranter utgjør en liten gruppe som lever marginaliserte liv, med spesielle behov i møte med helsetjenesten. De navigerer i en kompleks hverdag preget av uformelt arbeid og midlertidige boforhold samtidig som de forsøker å ivareta egen og andres helse. Mange har sammensatte helseutfordringer og behov for langvarig oppfølging. Rettighetsbegrensninger, språkproblemer, manglende personnummer og frykt for utsendelse påvirker behandlingsforløp og gir praktiske hindringer i klinisk arbeid. I denne kronikken belyser vi konkrete kliniske og organisatoriske utfordringer med utgangspunkt i en kasuistikk og egne erfaringer fra Helsesenter for papirløse migranter, og vi peker på løsninger som kan bidra til tryggere og mer likeverdige møter mellom leger og denne pasientgruppen.

• Geissler, Paul Wenzel; Prince, Ruth Jane; Mangesho, Peter Ernest; Biesen, Caroline Meier Zu; Tessua, Lulu & Tingira, Anitha [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). 13 Precarity, Exposure, Toxicity, Evidence. I Wolf-Meyer, Matthew J.; Kitanaka, Junko & Raikhel, Eugene (Red.), Mapping Medical Anthropology for the Twenty-First Century - Rutgers University Press. Rutgers University Press. ISSN 9781978845909. s. 217–234. doi: 10.36019/9781978845916-017. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Mapping Medical Anthropology for the Twenty-First Century provides readers with a comprehensive survey of topics, methodologies, and theories in the discipli...

• Ghosh, Prakash; Reck, Nicola; Schneider, Gisela; Asin, Judith; Okuni, Julius Boniface & Muvunyi, Claude Mambo [Vis alle 14 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Rapid consensus building to strengthen AMR surveillance in LMICs using One Health approach: a modified table-top exercise coupled with a Delphi study protocol. BMJ Open. 16(8), s. 1–9. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-112822. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Yago, Xiana; Astudillo-Skliarova, Igor Eduardo; Vinueza-Veloz, Andrés Fernando; Guerrero-Vaca, Dario Javier; Carrazco-Montalvo, Andrés & Piedra-Andrade, Jefferson Santiago [Vis alle 15 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Sensorimotor integration, nutrition and gut microbiota in Ecuadorian autistic children – “Proyecto Wiñay”: a research protocol for a comparative cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 17, s. 1–14. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1721567.
• Grude, Sine; Mwita, Winfrida C.; Lie, Anne Helene Kveim & Fjeld, Heidi E (2026). Producing antibiotic practices from guidelines, clinical assessment and health insurance in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Social Science and Medicine. ISSN 0277-9536. 405, s. 119602–119602. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119602. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Antibiotics are crucial medications for healthcare delivery. The regulatory frameworks that govern the prescription and consumption of antibiotics vary widely. In Tanzania, over-the-counter sales of antibiotics are illegal, yet widespread. In contrast, prescription of antibiotics in Tanzanian hospitals is constrained through regulatory tools, such as Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG). This paper examines what moves, limits and accelerates antibiotic prescription and use in rural hospitals of the Kilimanjaro region. The study draws on four months of ethnographic fieldwork, including participant observation and semi-structured interviews, between January and July 2022. We demonstrate that antibiotic prescription is influenced by drug availability, resource constraints, and linkages between guidelines and insurance systems. Doctors aim to create paper trails to adhere to the STGs which are closely linked to reimbursements from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), thereby balancing adherence to guidelines with their efforts to make antibiotic treatment work for their patients. Furthermore, resource constraints contribute to use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as Ceftriaxone. Through the theoretical frameworks of tinkering and standards in medicine, we argue that tinkering occurs at the individual, institutional and state levels. The STGs are not simply followed or violated but absorbed into broader repertoires of practice shaped by procurement systems, insurance logics, and clinical uncertainty. While concerning from an antimicrobial resistance perspective, it is analytically revealing from an ethnographic perspective, as antibiotic guidelines are reworked in practice rather than simply enacted. The findings of this study can inform policy on the effects of guidelines coupled with health insurance on antibiotic use.

• Lie, Anne Kveim (2026). The Timing of Milk. I Jordheim, Helge & Bjordal, Sine Halkjelsvik (Red.), Lifetimes: A Theory of Timescales and Life Forms. Punctum Books. ISSN 9781685712433. s. 209–230. doi: https:/books.punctumbooks.com/10.53288/0484.1.00.pdf. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This chapter studies an intimate form of time and synchronization: the multiple times of breastfeeding. Kveim Lie takes as her starting point an ignored dimension in the medical history of this practice, namely, the importance of time and timing in the breastfeeding process. The empirical case studied by Lie is the coming into being of a very successful campaign by second-wave feminists in 1970s Norway to reclaim women’s expertise in breastfeeding and develop self-help groups and teaching material, forming an organization that still exists today. Lie argues that this collective uprising was an event where practices, technologies, institutions, and even linguistic structures to a large extent hinged on questions of time, timing, and temporality

• Bassetti, Claudio L.A.; Chen, Christopher; Lewis, Steven L.; Bègue, Indrit; Adorjan, Kristina & Aguilar, Diego [Vis alle 49 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). The International Alliance on Brain Health (IABH): Bridging global efforts toward integrated brain and mental health plans and the promotion of local implementations. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. ISSN 0022-510X. 489. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2026.126069. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vongpradith, Avina; Dominguez, Regina Mae Villanueva; Car, Lorainne Tudor; Movo, Amanda; Ostroff, Samuel M. & He, Jiawei [Vis alle 1 883 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Global burden of enteric infectious diseases, diarrhoeal diseases, and corresponding aetiologies, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1473-3099. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(26)00194-5.
• Ledesma, Jorge R.; Zhang, Meixin; Liew, Mei Fong; Dominguez, Regina Mae Villanueva; Whikehart, Sophie Mei Lin & Verma, Megan [Vis alle 1 701 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Global, regional, and national burden of tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis by HIV status, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1473-3099. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(26)00295-1. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Muinde, Jacinta Victoria S.; Geissler, Paul Wenzel & Prince, Ruth Jane (2026). ‘Corona is Over’: Temporalities and Material Afterlives of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Kenya. Medical Anthropology. ISSN 0145-9740. s. 18–18. doi: 10.1080/01459740.2026.2710415. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  After what most Kenyans experienced as the “end of Covid” in 2021–22, material remains of anti-epidemic measures, biological traces such as long covid, and memories of deaths persisted. While infection itself left few visible material traces, paraphernalia of its control – masks, tests, handwashing stations, and routines – proved more durable, although often losing or changing their function and meaning. This paper examines Covid-19 residues in western Kenya, their state and use, the meanings people assign, and how they disappear or sediment among leftovers of other epidemics, shaping future pathways unpredictably. We reflect on the afterlives of epidemics in Kenya and elsewhere.

• Lukasse, Mirjam; Christensen, Hilde Gjelstad; Holien, Silje Synøve; Sandvold, Cathrine Olsen; Miltenburg, Andrea Solnes & Myhre, Enid (2026). Norwegian midwifery students' perceptions and experiences of respectful and disrespectful maternity care – a qualitative study. Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare. ISSN 1877-5756. 49. doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101244. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Kimambo, Asteria H.; Vuhahula, Edda; Mmbaga, Elia; Baraka, Balowa Musa; Malango, Atuganile & Illonga, Zainab [Vis alle 10 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Contextual Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration and Rapid Onsite Evaluation in a Resource-Limited Setting. JCO Global Oncology. 12(6), s. 1–10. doi: 10.1200/GO-25-00718. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Eick, Frode & Jahnsen, Synnøve Økland (2026). Homelessness as Structural Vulnerability: Precarious Citizenship and Migrant Health in a Nordic Welfare State. Journal of Migration and Health. s. 100423–100423. doi: 10.1016/j.jmh.2026.100423. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Endalew, Enatfenta Sewmehone; Tucho, Gudina Terefe; Mattisson, Kristoffer; Oudin, Anna; Papadopoulou, Eleni & Girmay, Aderajew Mekonnen [Vis alle 12 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Exploring perceived awareness, barriers and enablers of pregnant women towards physical activity in Ethiopian cities: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 26(1). doi: 10.1186/s12884-026-09454-x. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Miltenburg, Andrea Solnes; Uwamahoro, Nadege Sandrine; Mwanga, Joseph R.; Lindskog, Benedikte Victoria; Misje, Raghnild & Kihunrwa, Albert [Vis alle 9 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Developing middle-range theories for the implementation of clinical practice guideline recommendations for pre-eclampsia prevention and management in eastern, central and southern Africa: a realist synthesis protocol. BMJ Open. 16(5). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-116839. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Otieno, Sharon Adhiambo; Onyango-Ouma, Washington & Fjeld, Heidi (2026). “Looking for life”: sustaining livelihoods and life in artisanal gold mining in Bondo, Western Kenya. Anthropology Southern Africa. ISSN 2332-3256. doi: 10.1080/23323256.2026.2645807. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Schüttler, Sina Susanna; Parker, John Nathaniel & Münster, Daniel (2026). Psychedelic ethics in practice: The case of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in Norway. Journal of Psychedelic Studies. doi: 10.1556/2054.2026.00486. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Santomauro, Damian F.; Miller, Paul Anthony; Shadid, Jamileh; Hanson, Sarah Wulf; Vo, Anh & Roy, Darius Jake [Vis alle 1 199 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Updated trends in the global prevalence and burden of mental disorders, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 407(10543), s. 2040–2064. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00519-2. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: The 2023 iteration of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) estimated prevalence, incidence, and health burden for 375 diseases and injuries, including 12 mental disorders. We assess past, current, and emerging trends in the prevalence and burden of mental disorders across sexes and age groups, for 21 regions, 204 countries and territories, and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile, from 1990 to 2023. Methods: Mental disorders included in GBD 2023 were anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, conduct disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, idiopathic developmental intellectual disability, and a residual category of other mental disorders. A literature review identified epidemiological data for each disorder. These were analysed via a Bayesian meta-regression to estimate prevalence by disorder, sex, age, location, and year. Disorder-specific prevalence was multiplied by disability weights representing the severity of health loss associated with each disorder to estimate years lived with disability (YLDs). Deaths due to anorexia nervosa were assessed with a Cause of Death Ensemble modelling strategy to estimate deaths by sex, age, location, and year, and then multiplied by the standard life expectancy at age of death to estimate years of life lost (YLLs). YLDs equalled disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for all mental disorders except anorexia nervosa (the only mental disorder considered as an underlying cause of death in GBD), for which DALYs represented the sum of YLDs and YLLs. We presented prevalence, deaths, YLDs, YLLs, and DALYs as counts, age-specific rates per 100 000 population, and age-standardised rates per 100 000 population. Findings: We estimated 1·17 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1·06-1·31) prevalent cases of mental disorders globally in 2023, equivalent to an age-standardised prevalence rate of 14 210·7 cases (12 849·5-15 940·1) per 100 000 population. These estimates represented a 95·5% (75·0-121·2) increase in prevalent cases and 24·2% (11·4-41·4) increase in age-standardised prevalence rate between 1990 and 2023. All mental disorders showed increases in prevalent cases between 1990 and 2023, while notable increases were seen in age-standardised prevalence rates for anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, schizophrenia, and conduct disorder. There were an estimated 171 million (127-228) DALYs due to mental disorders globally across sex and age in 2023, equivalent to an age-standardised DALY rate of 2070·5 DALYs (1519·1-2750·5) per 100 000 population. Mental disorders contributed to 6·1% (4·8-7·6) of all-cause DALYs in 2023, making them the fifth leading cause of global DALYs (up from 12th in 1990). DALYs were almost entirely composed of YLDs. Mental disorders were the leading cause of YLDs in 2023 (up from second in 1990), explaining 17·3% (14·8-20·6) of all-cause global YLDs. Leading causes of mental disorder DALYs were anxiety disorders (ranked 11th among the 304 diseases and injuries at Level 4 of the GBD cause hierarchy), major depressive disorder (15th), and schizophrenia (41st). Globally in 2023, mental disorder age-standardised DALY rates were higher among females (2239·6 [1643·7-3014·1] per 100 000) than among males (1900·2 [1399·8-2510·8] per 100 000), and peaked in the 15-19 years age group (2617·3 [1850·6-3696·8] per 100 000). All locations showed increased mental disorder DALY rates in 2023 compared with 1990, ranging across countries and territories from 1302·4 (952·7-1683·7) per 100 000 in Viet Nam to 3555·8 (2661·9-4715·0) per 100 000 in the Netherlands. Across SDI quintiles, DALY rates ranged from 1853·0 (1352·1-2469·3) per 100 000 for middle SDI to 2184·1 (1606·1-2890·3) per 100 000 for high SDI. Interpretation: A significant health burden was imposed by mental disorders in all countries and territories in 2023, irrespective of the health resources available. In some instances, this burden has increased over time and is unevenly distributed across populations. Stronger surveillance systems, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, are required. Additionally, we need more coordinated and inclusive policies to reduce the burden through early treatment and prevention, tailored to sex and age differences across locations. Responding to the mental health needs of our global population, especially those most vulnerable, is an obligation, not a choice.

• Tesli, Martin Steen; Hjellvik, Vidar; Lergenmuller, Simon; Hjell, Gabriela; Jangmo, Andreas & Haram, Marit [Vis alle 13 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Socioeconomic Position and Somatic Comorbidity in Mental Disorders. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. ISSN 0001-690X. doi: 10.1111/acps.70113. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Introduction Individuals with mental disorders face an elevated risk for somatic noncommunicable diseases (NCD), such as cardiovascular disease (CVDs), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and cancer. Low socioeconomic position (SEP) is linked to both mental disorders and somatic NCDs, but its role in this association remains unclear. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of how associations between mental disorders and somatic NCDs vary by SEP indicators. Methods Data on all adult individuals resident in Norway from 01.01.2008 to 01.01.2010 (N = 3,589,719) were derived from a nationwide registry linkage including information on primary and secondary health care, dispensed drugs, causes of death, and socioeconomic factors. We assessed four broad types of mental disorders (psychotic, bipolar, depressive and anxiety disorders) and four categories of somatic NCDs (CVD, COPD, diabetes, cancer) diagnosed during follow-up from 01.01.2010 to 31.12.2020. Educational attainment and household income were used as SEP indicators, in addition to parental educational attainment. Cox regression models estimated hazard ratios for somatic NCDs among individuals with mental disorders compared to the general population, adjusting for and stratifying by SEP, sex, and age. Results All mental disorders were associated with an increased risk of somatic NCDs, strongest for COPD and weakest for cancer. Risk increased with disorder severity, with psychotic and bipolar disorders showing the strongest associations. Young adults with psychosis had a 4–5-fold increased risk of diabetes and COPD. Low SEP was associated with both mental disorders and somatic NCDs with moderate attenuating effects in their co-occurrence and little variation across SEP strata. Conclusion We found an increased risk of somatic NCDs in individuals with mental disorders and identified young adults with psychosis as a particularly vulnerable subgroup. Low SEP compounds this burden, underscoring the need for integrated mental and somatic healthcare strategies.

• Lafontan, Sara Rivenes; Eick, Frode & Einang, Karoline Hasle (2026). Between legal rights and lived realities: Roma Women’s experiences of abortion care analyzed using the WHO conceptual framework for abortion care. Women's Health. ISSN 1745-5057. 22. doi: 10.1177/17455057261458329. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Access to abortion is a core component of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). In Norway and most European countries, abortion is legal on request. Yet, legal entitlement alone does not ensure equitable or person-centered care. Migrant women, including Roma women from Eastern Europe, often face structural and informational barriers when navigating abortion and related services. Objectives This study explored Roma women’s experiences of abortion care, counselling, and follow-up in light of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Conceptual Framework for Abortion Care. Design A qualitative, exploratory design was used. Methods: Seven semi-structured individual interviews and one focus group discussion were conducted with 12 Roma women temporarily residing in Oslo. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results Four interrelated themes were developed: 1 Limited access to information and contraceptive counselling, 2 Fragmented care and missed opportunities for continuity, 3 Bodily integrity and consent, and 4 Autonomy, values, and the meaning of motherhood. Participants described abortion as medically safe and respectful but constrained by linguistic barriers, reliance on informal networks for information, and a lack of post-abortion counselling or follow-up. Conclusions The study shows that Roma women’s experiences of abortion care were shaped by limited information, lack of continuity of care, and constrained autonomy. Viewed through the WHO framework, these experiences illustrate how comprehensive abortion care remains unevenly achieved for mobile and marginalized women.

• Bakken, Inger Johanne Landsjøåsen; Ruiz, Paz Lopez-Doriga; Furu, Kari; Gulseth, Hanne Løvdal; Sveen, Kari Anne & Nøkleby, Kjersti [Vis alle 9 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Clinical Characteristics of Users of Weight Loss Drugs: Population-Based Case–Control Study. Diabetes, obesity and metabolism. ISSN 1462-8902. 28(7), s. 6312–6323. doi: 10.1111/dom.70827. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objectives: To investigate clinical characteristics of weight loss drugs (WLDs) users in Norway. Design: Nested population-based case-control study. Setting: Nationwide healthcare registries with data on dispensed medications and healthcare diagnoses. Participants: Individuals aged 18-74 years initiating WLDs during 2023–2024, categorized by drugs: semaglutide (only Wegovy), liraglutide (only Saxenda), tirzepatide, bupropion-naltrexone, or orlistat. Each WLD user was matched with five age- and sex-matched population controls. Main outcome measures: Comorbidities diagnosed in the two years preceding initiation of WLD use and comedications dispensed in the preceding year, analysed using conditional logistic regression. Results: 150,036 individuals initiated semaglutide, 4,603 liraglutide, 3,596 tirzepatide, 31,172 bupropion–naltrexone, and 1,411 orlistat. Among WLD users, 71-78% were registered with at least one comorbidity, compared to 49-51% in controls. 19-24% of WLD users had 4 or more comorbidities. Hypertension was observed among 32-38% of WLD users vs. 17-20% of controls; hyperlipidaemias: 20-24% vs. 12-15%; sleep apnoea: 7-11% vs. 2-3%; back pain: 15-20% vs. 10-11%; opioids: 24-30% vs. 13-15%; antidepressants: 20-24% vs. 10-11%. Having only basic level of education (<=10 years) was more common among WLD users than among controls (20-28% vs 17%), except for tirzepatide users where education level distribution was as for controls. Conclusions: WLD use is rapidly increasing, with users often having complex comorbidity. Understanding these patterns helps ensure that medications are used as intended. Like other countries with universal health systems, Norway must address the high cost of obesity treatments and mitigate health disparities to ensure access for those most likely to benefit.

• Sirota, Sarah Brooke; Bender, Rose Grace; Dominguez, Regina Mae Villanueva; Vongpradith, Avina; Movo, Amanda & Swetschinski, Lucien R. [Vis alle 1 361 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Global, regional, and national burden of meningitis, its risk factors, and aetiologies, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. Lancet Neurology. ISSN 1474-4422. 25(5), s. 451–468. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(26)00101-8. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Münster, Daniel (2026). Yogic Ecology? Spirituality, Science, and Pseudoscience in Indian Agroecological Movements for Soil Health. I Hansen, Mette Halskov & Nielsen, Kenneth Bo (Red.), Religion and Ecological Crisis: Responses from Asia. Leiden University Press. ISSN 9789087285081. s. 51–72. doi: https:/www.jstor.org/stable/jj.38401862.7. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The chapter examines the role of religion and spirituality in sustainable agriculture in India. Through case studies of figures like Albert Howard, Masanobu Fukuoka, Subhash Palekar, and yoga gurus Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Sadhguru, it explores how religious and spiritual idioms contribute to agroecological movements’ critiquing modern agronomy’s reductionist approach and highlighting the ecological and political-economic costs of the Green Revolution. The paper discusses the ontological politics of living soils and the potential of spiritually inspired agroecology to foster sustainable human-nature relationships. It concludes that while spiritually informed natural farming can challenge extractive

• Kitomary, Nuruel Robert; Metta, Emmy; Leshabari, Melkizedeck T.; Moen, Kåre & Mmbaga, Elia (2026). Prevalence and factors associated with mental distress among men at higher risk of HIV infection enrolled in an HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis program in Tanga, Tanzania. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 17. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1605734. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Nyagabona, Sarah Kutika; Paciorek, Alan; Pallangyo, Angela; Pallangyo, Charles Kisali; Wang, Chia Ching Jackie & Kahesa, Crispin [Vis alle 10 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Baseline clinical and laboratory profiles at breast cancer diagnosis in Tanzania: differences by HIV status. Breast. ISSN 0960-9776. 88. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2026.104797. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Women living with HIV (WLHIV) may present with distinct clinical and laboratory characteristics at the time of breast cancer diagnosis. While previous studies, including multi-country cohorts such as the ABC-DO study, have described baseline patient and tumor features, data on pre-treatment laboratory parameters in routine clinical settings remain limited. This study aimed to characterize baseline clinical and laboratory factors at diagnosis and assess differences by HIV status. Methods We analyzed data from women newly diagnosed with breast cancer at three tertiary hospitals in Tanzania. HIV status was obtained from medical records or provider-initiated testing. Baseline clinical and laboratory variables measured before systemic cancer therapy were evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with HIV status. Results Among 425 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, 47 (11%) were living with HIV. Advanced disease at presentation was common across the cohort. Neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <1.5 × 109/L) was more frequent among WLHIV than among women without HIV (15% vs 3%) and remained independently associated with HIV status (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26–9.79). Conclusions WLHIV more frequently presented with neutropenia and advanced disease at diagnosis. By identifying clinically relevant differences in hematologic status are detectable at presentation using routinely collected data, this study addresses a key gap in real-world evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. These findings provide clinically actionable insight into baseline patient status at entry into cancer care and may inform early clinical assessment and supportive care planning in resource-constrained settings.

• Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Gjerdrum, Hilde Synnøve Vollan; Berg, Einar Sverre; Wester, Astrid Louise & Caugant, Dominique Andree Yette (2026). Evolutionary dynamics and virulence factor variability in invasive Streptococcus pyogenes in Norway, 2017-2023. mSphere. 11(3), s. 1–20. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00775-25. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lergenmuller, Simon; Robsahm, Trude Eid; Nilssen, Yngvar; Dalene, Knut Eirik; Nystad, Wenche & Meyer, Haakon Eduard [Vis alle 11 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). A comprehensive nationwide registry study of noncommunicable disease comorbidities and death in cancer patients in Norway—the NCDNOR project. Scientific Reports. 16(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-41831-6. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Eide, Helena Niemi; Håberg, Siri Eldevik; Næss, Øyvind Erik; Stephansson, Olof & Magnus, Maria Christine (2026). COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination in Pregnancy and Risk of Infection in Early Childhood. Pediatrics. ISSN 0031-4005. 157(4), s. 1–9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2025-073661. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  OBJECTIVE To examine associations between COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and the risk of various infections in early childhood. METHODS We conducted a nationwide, register-based cohort study comprising all live-born infants in Norway between March 2021 and December 2023 with follow-up through 2023. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios for infections diagnosed in primary or specialist health care. Separate analyses were performed for specific infections, including COVID-19. RESULTS Among 146 031 infants born in Norway in the study period, 37 013 (25%) were exposed to COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. There was no difference in the overall risk of any infection registered in specialist care among offspring exposed to maternal vaccination (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.99; 95% CI, 0.95–1.03). A slightly increased risk of being registered with any infection in primary care was observed among exposed offspring (adjusted HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03–1.07), which was fully attenuated after excluding children of mothers who remained unvaccinated at the end of follow-up. The offspring’s protection against COVID-19 decreased over time, and the adjusted HRs for hospital contact were 0.48 for the first 2 months (95% CI, 0.40–0.56), 0.76 at 3 to 5 months (95% CI, 0.60–0.98), 1.13 at 6 to 11 months (95% CI, 0.82–1.56), and 1.14 after 12 months (95% CI, 0.72–1.79). No notable difference in the risk of hospital contacts for infections other than COVID-19 was observed. CONCLUSION COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy protects the offspring against hospital contact for COVID-19 during the first 6 months of life. No apparent effect was observed for other infections.

• Hørte, Cathrine; Vederhus, John-Kåre & Abildsnes, Eirik (2026). Youth Impacted by a Family Member’s Substance Use: A Qualitative Exploration of Life Course Experiences and Coping. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma. ISSN 1936-1521. 19, s. 1731–1742. doi: 10.1007/s40653-026-00869-4. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Many reports describe how children and youth are negatively impacted by substance use in their household. Less is known about how they cope. Moreover, there is a scarcity of research that analyses empirical data through a theoretical lens. The aim of the present study was two-fold: to explore the experiences and coping strategies of youth growing up impacted by a family member’s substance use, and to examine how these findings relate to pertinent theory. The participants were 17–21 years of age and had participated in a psychoeducational programme for affected family members. We conducted in-depth interviews (n = 6), applying Systematic Text Condensation in a thematic cross-case analysis. Discussions of the findings were informed by insights from the Salutogenic Model of Health. Two main themes emerged. First, growing up with substance use is a lonesome and demanding experience. Second, children and youth cope using methods that may become problematic—such as supressing emotions and trying to be self-supported—as well as strategies aimed at fostering independence and focusing on constructing a better future. By discussing our findings in the context of salutogenic theory, we gained insights into the multifaceted aspects of coping, which may inform practice and facilitate movement towards health in this population.

• Einang, Karoline Hasle; Eick, Frode & Lafontan, Sara Rivenes (2026). Valued but not used: a qualitative study on the perception of contraception among Eastern European Roma women commuting to Oslo, Norway. Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare. ISSN 1877-5756. s. 101215–101215. doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101215. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Betancourt, Mingyuan Zhang (2026). “Making One’s Own Doctor”: Épicerie medicine and the Informal Circulation of Antibiotics in Northern Madagascar. Medical Anthropology. ISSN 0145-9740. doi: 10.1080/01459740.2026.2656931. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  People in Madagascar often resort to small grocery kiosks (épicerie) for various Western medicines including antibiotics – they call the practice “magnano docteur tegna” (“making one’s own doctor”). Creating an unregulated antibiotic market, the practice is detrimental to the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This article explores the informal circulation of antibiotics in northern Madagascar and the local patterns of antibiotic use. I argue that the lack of healthcare coverage is the key reason for improvised health solutions. There is a discrepancy between the long-term threat of AMR and the most urgent need of people living in precarity.

• Davis, Rachel; List, Saskia S.; Chappell, Kendal Gordon; Madar, Ahmed Ali; Henjum, Sigrun & Heen, Espen Kolstad (2026). Evaluating the performance of a custom GPT in full text screening of a systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948. doi: 10.1177/14034948261423410. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Aim: Systematic reviewing is a time-consuming process that can be aided by artificial intelligence (AI). There are several AI options to assist with title/abstract screening, however options for full text screening are limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a custom generative pretrained transformer (cGPT) for full text screening. Methods: A cGPT powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT4o was tested with subsets of articles assessed in duplicate by human reviewers. Outputs from the testing subset were coded to simulate cGPT as an autonomous and an assistant reviewer. Cohen’s kappa was used to assess interrater agreement. Results: For the inclusion/exclusion decision, the human–human kappa scores ranged from 0.87 to 0.96, exceeding the ranges of kappa scores for autonomous cGPT–human pairings (0.59 to 0.67) and assistant cGPT–human pairings (0.62 to 0.72). For exclusion reason classification, the human–human kappa scores ranged from 0.71 to 0.78, exceeding the ranges of kappa scores for autonomous cGPT–human pairings (0.47 to 0.53) and assistant cGPT–human pairings (0.52 to 0.63). Conclusions: The assistant cGPT outperformed the autonomous cGPT. An assistant cGPT could speed up systematic reviewing in a sufficiently reliable manner, however, further research is needed to establish standardized thresholds for practical use. Improved speed of systematic reviewing has implications for directing timely public health policy decisions.

• Mangesho, Peter Ernest & Gradmann, Christoph (2026). Asian Drug Import, Local Production and Regulatory Capacity in Tanzania, 1970 – 2005. Nordic Journal of African Studies. ISSN 1235-4481. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Guido, Giacomo; Abbara, Aula; Asaduzzaman, Muhammad; Farkas, Ferenc Balazs; Diabate, Kader & Duvignaud, Alexandre [Vis alle 31 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). AdMiRE Study: Development and Validation of a WHO-aligned Tool to Assess Healthcare Access and Antibiotic Use Among Migrant Populations in Europe — A Multicountry Delphi and Psychometric Study on behalf of the ESGITM group. CMI Communications (CMI Comms). s. 105184–105184. doi: 10.1016/j.cmicom.2026.105184. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Wu, Tsung-Shu Joseph; Mvula, Matthew Vundu; Chado, Edward Kada Koma; Kamanga, Blessings Nthezemu; Mapemba, Daniel Denis & Billy, Rajab Enoch [Vis alle 13 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Establishing One Health Surveillance Platform for Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Malawi: Action Design Research Study. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance. 12. doi: 10.2196/72029. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Facing the threats of emerging and reemerging health issues requires One Health surveillance systems to provide information for integrated responses. Malawi started enhancing the electronic integrated disease surveillance and response (eIDSR) system in 2015, progressing with the aim of developing a One Health Surveillance Platform (OHSP) using District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) as its technical backbone, thereby supporting the COVID-19 pandemic response more resiliently and impacting the integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) performance. Digital solutions are critical components of One Health surveillance; however, evidence of the successful establishment and implementation of adaptive digital One Health surveillance systems is scarce. Objective This study aims to report on the establishment of the OHSP in Malawi and how an adaptive digital health solution contributed to strengthening and impacting the country’s eIDSR during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond the pandemic. Methods The establishment of Malawi’s OHSP was based on the action design research methodology with a transdisciplinary approach. The core team reflected the multiple iterative processes of building the OHSP and formalized its impact on IDSR reporting quality. Results The OHSP core team conducted multiple iterative cycles to build the platform, leveraging lessons from previous eIDSR pilots, reusing digital health infrastructure, and developing DHIS2 digital solutions in 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial establishment was to cover 48.3% (14/29) of the country’s health districts. Pivoting from the initial plan as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, the core team swiftly adapted the OHSP to scale up nationwide and assisted the health system in responding to the pandemic. The pandemic shock resulted in a national scale-up of the OHSP and impacted the national weekly IDSR reporting quality from nonexistence in 2015 to 97.8% and 74.5% for completeness and timeliness, respectively, in 2024. Conclusions The establishment of the OHSP significantly bolstered the surveillance function for weekly IDSR reporting. Government leadership and good coordination were key to success. Continuous capacity building, enhancement of community-level surveillance with digital innovations, adaptable technical infrastructure, and a reuse strategy can provide long-term sustainability for One Health surveillance. Malawi’s experience may apply to other countries with demonstrated value of resilient, government-led digital health interventions. Future efforts should focus on improving interoperability with other One Health domains and investing in infrastructure upgrades with local leadership and domestic funding to prepare for future emergencies.

Se alle arbeider i NVA

• Prince, Ruth Jane (2026). Cancer, health insurance and therapeutic (im)mobility in Kenya. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Prince, Ruth Jane (2026). Health Insurance and family care: Affective burdens of welfare reform in Kenya. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Prince, Ruth Jane (2026). Differential inclusion and partial protection: Kenya's welfare reforms. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Prince, Ruth Jane & Geissler, Paul Wenzel (2026). Remembering the Covid pandemic with state health workers in Kenya. doi: https:/www.med.uio.no/helsam/english/research/news-and-events/events/others/2026/living-through-epidemics.html. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vik, Eline Skirnisdottir; Einang, Karoline Hasle; Eick, Frode & Rivenes, Sara (2026). Aktuell forskning - Romske kvinner fra Øst-Europa: Prevensjon oppleves som viktig, men ikke alltid relevant. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Maltzahn, Niklas Nyboe; Kvalvaag, Elisabeth Myrset; Hjellvik, Vidar; Anjum, Mariam; Skovlund, Eva & Wisløff, Torbjørn [Vis alle 14 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Causal effects of modifying CHA2DS2Va guidelines on incidence of ischemic stroke. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Kvalvaag, Elisabeth Myrset; Maltzahn, Niklas Nyboe; Hjellvik, Vidar; Anjum, Mariam; Skovlund, Eva & Wisløff, Torbjørn [Vis alle 17 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Factors associated with initiation of oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vartiainen, Pekka; Haapaniemi, Hele; Lee, Yunsung; Magnus, Maria Christine; Hartonen, Tuomo & Detrois, Kira [Vis alle 31 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Infant respiratory syncytial virus and childhood asthma: a nationwide registry-based, sibling-controlled, and genome-wide association study. medRxiv. doi: 10.64898/2026.07.17.26351934. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Background Early-life respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is associated with childhood recurrent wheeze or asthma (RW/A), but causality and shared genetic liability remain unclear. Methods We combined Finnish nationwide registries and Nordic genetic cohorts. First, in 965 312 Finnish children born between 1998 and 2014, we defined severe RSV as RSV hospitalisation before age 1 year, and recurrent wheezing or asthma (RW/A) as inhaled medication reimbursement between ages 1 and 7 years, and compared medication and eosinophil trajectories by RSV history. Second, we assessed familial confounding in 527 776 full siblings and 15 667 RW/A- discordant pairs. Third, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of RSV susceptibility with meta-analysis across six Nordic cohorts (3 107 cases, 92 091 controls) and two-sample Mendelian randomisation (2SMR) using 155 asthma-associated variants. Findings RSV-associated RW/A showed higher inhaled medication use at ages 1–2 years but lower use after age 5, and lower mean blood eosinophils (0·341 vs 0·398×10□/L; p=0·008) than RW/A without RSV hospitalisation. In RW/A-discordant sibling pairs, RSV hospitalisation was associated with RW/A (OR 2·8; 95% CI 2·4–3·2), while unaffected siblings also had elevated RW/A prevalence. GWAS identified an RSV association at APBB1IP (rs787036; β=0·209; p=8·80×10 - □). 2SMR provided no evidence that asthma genetic liability influenced RSV susceptibility. Interpretation The RSV–asthma association is unlikely to be explained by shared genetic or environmental factors, and RSV-associated RW/A shows a distinct trajectory. These findings help prioritise long-term outcomes for RSV prevention trials and monitoring. Funding Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, Foundation for Pediatric Research, Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Orion Research Foundation, the Research Council of Norway.

• Eide, Helena Niemi (2026). COVID vaccines during pregnancy protect newborns for 5 months, study finds : NPR. [Internet]. NPR. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  A 3-year study published in Pediatrics examined newborns in Norway. It found a clear benefit for the baby when mom gets a COVID vaccination during pregnancy.

• Eide, Helena Niemi (2026). COVID Shots in Pregnancy Protect Infants’ First 6 Months. [Internet]. Medscape. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The research adds important evidence for clinicians counseling pregnant patients.

• Eick, Frode & Jahnsen, Synnøve Økland (2026). Ny kunnskap om bostedsløshet og migranters helse. doi: https:/uni.oslomet.no/bovel/2026/09/16/ny-kunnskap-om-bostedsloshet-og-migranters-helse/. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Fjeld, Heidi E & Hofer, Theresia (2026). Tibetan and Himalayan Cosmopolitics: Rural Lives in Changing Circumstances. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Fjeld, Heidi E (2026). Shifting rural spaces in the high Himalayas: Cosmopolitics, food and future-making in rural western Bhutan. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The agro-pastoral communities of the Haa Valley in western Bhutan face rapid change from outmigration, labor shortages, and concerns about agricultural viability, experiences shared across high-Himalayan communities. While villagers express loss of people and traditional ways of life, they also pursue creative practices to sustain and reimagine rural life. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in upper Haa since 2023, this talk examines cosmopolitics, food, and rural future-making, focusing on shifting human–animal relations (pigs, wild boars, cows, and yaks). I focus especially on changing human–yak relations: yaks remain central to household relationalities, economies and ritual life, yet new sensibilities around slaughter and vegetarianism challenge this interconnectedness. I show how consumption of yak meat and the ritual use of yak ribs are negotiated amid evolving policies, moral sensibilities, and outmigration, arguing these practices form creative cosmopolitical engagements that reshape imaginaries of rural futures in western Bhutan.

• Patel, Davina Kaur (2026). Waters That Do Not Mix: Following Water Through Scarcity, Toxicity & Struggle in Punjab. doi: https:/easst.net/conference/easst2026/easst2026-programme/#timetable. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This paper traces how multiple water crises in Punjab are produced and governed through what I term a hydroscape: an assemblage of waters, infrastructures, institutions, scientific practices, and political-economic relations linked through water's material flows. Based on nine months of ethnographic fieldwork, I follow water across multiple sites across Punjab. I argue that groundwater depletion, toxic contamination, wastewater disposal, and environmental health harms are commonly treated as separate problems by state institutions and expert systems. Yet following water ethnographically reveals how these conditions are materially interconnected. Colonial canal irrigation, postcolonial Green Revolution agriculture, industrial expansion, wastewater infrastructures, and regulatory regimes have together produced a hydroscape in which water is simultaneously scarce, toxic, and, during extreme events, dangerously abundant. Drawing on STS scholarship on hydrosocial relations, infrastructure, and pollution, I show how technocratic interventions increasingly focus on managing flows rather than limiting extraction or contamination at source. Groundwater depletion is addressed through deeper extraction and alternative water supplies; pollution is addressed through treatment infrastructures and permissible thresholds. Such interventions redistribute harms while preserving existing relations of production and authority. Against these governance logics, communities living alongside the Buddha Nala mobilise sensory, experiential, and embodied forms of evidence to contest official claims of remediation. Their struggles highlight the limits of expert-led water governance and point instead toward a reparative politics of water justice grounded in accountability, situated knowledge, and the inseparability of environmental health and social justice.

• Reme, Silje Endresen; Landmark, Live; Asprusten, Tarjei Tørre; Suvatne, Christer; Herner, Linn Breen & Drivenes, Elin [Vis alle 63 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Gi pasientene livet tilbake. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 146. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.26.0480. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Vi vet nok til å kunne hjelpe langt flere pasienter med langvarige symptomer. Likevel holder vi tilbake håpet, av frykt for å skuffe. Det kan koste pasientene store deler av livet. Denne kronikken er et faglig opprop fra 63 klinikere, forskere og fagpersoner fra hele landet. Vi har klinisk og forskningsmessig erfaring med vedvarende fysiske symptomer, som smerter, utmattelse, «hjernetåke», svimmelhet og mageplager og har samlet oss om et felles budskap: Ny kunnskap om hvordan slike symptomer oppstår og opprettholdes gir grunn til langt større håp om bedring enn mange pasienter får formidlet i dag.

• Patel, Davina Kaur (2026). Co-Inflamed Ecologies: The Soil-Body-Inflammation Nexus in Agro-Intensive Punjab. doi: https:/www.soc.cas.cz/cz/akce/workshopy/living-with-inflammation-inquiry-into-the-ontology-and-politics-of-flammability. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This paper shows how inflammation, understood as a boundary concept and as performing boundary work, offers a powerful lens for unravelling the intimate connections between soil ecologies, human embodiment and health in Punjab’s paddy-wheat agrarian regime. I advance the soil-body-inflammation nexus to make legible the often-elusive health effects of agro-industrial harm in a landscape shaped by high agrochemical inputs, intensive cropping, stubble burning, and groundwater depletion. This paper is based on nine months of multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork with alternative farmers and agricultural scientists in Punjab. Through the story of alternative farmer ‘Preetam’, this paper ethnographically maps locally articulated cascade pathways through which Punjab’s soils are understood as microbially afflicted by agrochemical inputs, and connected to disrupted gut microbiomes, inflammation and autoimmune disease—what can be understood as agrochemical co-produced inflammation of bodies. Yet soils are not just the medium via which more-than-human inflammatory cascades unfold. Soils themselves catch fire, as manifests through the phenomenon of ‘stubble burning’ in Punjab. Thus, the nexus also points towards the ways in which stubble burning shapes human/ more-than-human health (e.g. air pollution effects), and how it ignites political tensions and farmer-state conflicts. Through the soil-body-inflammation nexus, I hope to explicate inflammation as a boundary concept for grasping how soil and human bodies are co-afflicted by intensive agriculture. Furthermore, I seek to highlight how inflammation performs material and relational work at boundary surfaces between bodies and environments (e.g. epithelial lining of the gut), exposing agro-industrial and -chemical harm—inflammation as embodied informant, in a sense. Soil-body-inflammation nexus, is a crucial lens through which bodily health harms of intensive industrialised agriculture can be apprehended, lending deeper insights into how “inflammation in your arteries and the inflammation of the planet are linked” (Marya and Patel 2022).

• Eick, Frode; Kurdzielewicz, Marta; Lie, Anne Kveim & Fjeld, Heidi E (2026). Developing a designated general practitioner clinic for and with temporary migrant workers and local stakeholders in Norway: - lessons learned from the BRIDGE project. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Eick, Frode & Jahnsen, Synnøve Økland (2026). Homelessness as structural vulnerability: - Precarious citizenship and migrant health in a Nordic welfare state. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Patel, Davina Kaur (2026). Lamoreaux, Janelle. 2023. Infertile Environments. Epigenetic Toxicology and the Reproductive Health of Chinese Men. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. 160 pp. Pb.: US$23.95, ISBN: 978-1-4780-1933-6. Social Anthropology. ISSN 0964-0282. 31(1). doi: https:/www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/saas/34/1/saas340107.xml. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Borisova, Varvara; Patel, Davina Kaur & Senft, Lukáš (2026). Flammable Matters: A Workshop Report on Living with Inflammation. EASST Review. ISSN 1384-5160. 45(1). doi: https:/easst.net/easst-review/45-1/flammable-matters-a-workshop-report-on-living-with-inflammation/. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grødeland, Gunnveig; Pettersen, Frank O.; Hauge, Siri Helene & Ottersen, Trygve (2026). Vaksinepodden - Episode 40 - Vaksineprioriteringer. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Hvordan bruker vi vaksiner i Norge? Hvem velger hvilke vaksiner som tas i bruk, og hvordan de brukes? Sommeren 2025 innførte Norge et voksenvaksinasjonsprogram, men hvordan ble det bestemt hvilke vaksiner som skulle inngå i dette, og hva medfører det? I denne episoden har vi besøk av Siri Helene Hauge, som er avdelingsdirektør for smittevern og vaksiner på Folkehelseinstituttet, og Trygve Ottersen, som er direktør i Direktoratet for Medisinske Produkter. I studio er ellers som vanlig overlege Frank Olav Pettersen fra Infeksjonsmedisinsk avdeling ved Ullevål, og Gunnveig Grødeland som er professor i immunologi og leder for Senter for pandemi- og en-helseforskning ved Universitetet i Oslo.

• Engelsen, Thea Cecilie; Einang, Karoline Hasle; Eick, Frode & Lafontan, Sara Rivenes (2026). Legen sa han ville «gjøre noe» slik at hun ikke ble gravid igjen. Kvinnen fryktet hun kunne ha blitt sterilisert. [Internet]. Forskning.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Moderne prevensjon ble vurdert som lite aktuelt blant disse kvinnene.

• Jensenius, Alexander Refsum; Sandve, Geir Kjetil Ferkingstad; Boasson, Elin Lerum; Mjaaland, Marius Timmann; Skjelkvåle, Brit Lisa & Moen, Kåre [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). What can the Centre for Global Sustainability do for UiO – and the other way around? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Kogstad, Kari Thori; Getz, Linn Okkenhaug; Vike, Halvard & Lie, Anne Kveim (2026). The General Practice Office as an organisation. An Ethnographic Study of Interaction and Collaboration in Practice. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  An Ongoing Ethnographic Study The GP scheme is a cornerstone of the Norwegian health service, its value base being equal access. The work culture in the country's 1350 doctors' offices has hardly been investigated. The aim of the study is to develop new knowledge about daily interaction and collaboration between GPs and medical secretaries, and the results of this work. Field studies with participant observation are the chosen method.

• Eick, Frode; Näsholm, Linnea; Gjerstad, Ingunn & Nystuen, Gro (2026). Papirløs, ikke verdiløs. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Eick, Frode (2026). The use of maternity care and pregnancy outcomes among undocumented migrants in Norway. doi: https:/wombhnet.wordpress.com/about/. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Eick, Frode (2026). Impact of securitization of borders on the healthcare of undocumented migrants in Europe. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Jahnsen, Synnøve Økland & Eick, Frode (2026). Between Rights and Restrictions. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lengle, Emma Joanna & Arnesen, Mats (2026). Nytt nei til akademisk boikott av Israel ved UiO. [Journal]. Khrono.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Etter en omfattende diskusjon slo styret ved Universitetet i Oslo fast at forskere kan ha israelske partnere i EU-prosjekter. Men universitetet kan ikke inngå nye institusjonelle avtaler med israelske universiteter.

• Lindskog, Benedikte Victoria; Bains, Sukhjeet; Tellum, Tina & Woo, Minji (2026). NAVIGATING PAIN ACROSS BORDERS: A Socioecological Analysis of Immigrant Women with Endometriosis Living in Norway. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  --- Abstract will be published: 2029-06-08

• Muinde, Jacinta Victoria Syombua & Aslam, Warda (2026). Pakistani Experiences of Seasonal Affective Disorder: Navigating the Winter Mental Health Landscape. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and winter-related mood difficulties have been widely studied in Nordic populations, but little is known about how immigrants from warmer climates experience these seasonal changes. Pakistanis form one of the largest non-Western immigrant communities in Norway, yet their experiences of winter mental health remain largely unexplored. Most existing research has relied on biomedical and epidemiological approaches that cannot capture how seasonal distress is shaped by migration, culture, community life, and religious practice. Objectives This study aimed to explore the experiences of seasonal affective disorder and winter depression among Pakistani immigrants in Norway, and to examine how cultural background, community networks, religious practice, and coping strategies shape these seasonal experiences. Methods A qualitative ethnographic study was conducted using semi-structured individual interviews, one focus group discussion, and participant observation. Twenty-four participants of Pakistani background took part in the study, 18 in individual interviews and 6 in the focus group discussion. Participants were men and women who had migrated to Norway in or after 2005 and were recruited primarily from Oslo and Akershus through community networks and snowball sampling. Two participants residing in Northern Norway were also included. Interviews and the focus group were conducted in Urdu, later transcribed and translated into English, and analysed using thematic analysis in NVivo. Findings Six key themes emerged from the data. Winter functioned as an environmental and emotional amplifier in which darkness, cold, and silence intensified existing stress, loneliness, and homesickness rather than producing distress on their own. Vulnerability to winter varied with the timing of migration, geographic location, and economic pressure. Cultural differences between Pakistan and Norway in social rhythm and openness about mental health made winter feel quieter and more isolating. Community networks, friendships, life-cycle gatherings, travel, and religious practice emerged as essential coping resources. The language used to describe winter distress was largely every day and somatic rather than clinical and revealed clear gendered patterns. Conclusion Seasonal wellbeing among Pakistani immigrants in Norway is shaped by the interaction of environmental conditions, migration history, cultural expectations, and community life. These findings can inform culturally sensitive mental health support for immigrant populations in high-latitude environments.

• Cox, Dr. Sheree; Kuhumba, Mr. Shija Kevin & ILINDE, NIYIGENA DELICE (2026). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Towards Research Misconduct at the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences: a Cross-Sectional Study. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Title: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward research misconduct at the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences: a cross-sectional study Background: Research misconduct is a global concern, however, there is limited knowledge about research misconduct in the Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) such as Rwanda. This study aimed to assess the association between attitudes and practices towards research misconduct among postgraduate students and academic staff at the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (UR-CMHS). This study was part of the Ethics in Research and Clinical Practice (ETHIMED) project funded by the Norwegian Partnership Program for the Global Academic corporation (NORPART). Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from 153 master's students, 18 PhD students, and 87 academic staff at UR-CMHS from August to November 2025. Stata version 19 SE was used to analyse the data. Results: Plagiarism policy was the most known, reported by 83.3% while the research misconduct allegation policy was the least known, reported by 51.6% of the participants. The majority agreed with the statements, saying that research misconduct is unacceptable, while also disagreeing with the statements saying that misconduct is acceptable when confident about findings. The overall research misconduct prevalence including both fabrication, falsification, plagiarism and other questionable research practices in the last three years was 63.6%. There was no significant association found between attitudes and practices towards research misconduct. Conclusion: Briefly, this study assessed the association between attitudes and practices towards research misconduct, and there was no significant association found. The majority had good attitudes, but research misconduct prevalence was very high. Therefore, I recommend future studies to explore the factors contributing to high research misconduct prevalence found in this context.

• Veloz, Maria Fernanda Vinueza; Arias, Tannia Valeria Carpio & Knudsen, Trine Broberg (2026). Nutritional Status and Cerebellar-dependent Motor Learning in Ecuadorian Children: A cross-sectional study. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  --- Abstract will be published: 2028-05-25

• Prince, Ruth & Manickam, Celina Kippernes (2026). The Battle Beneath the Surface: Antibiotic Use, Fish Health and Governance in Norwegian Salmon Aquaculture. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This thesis explores how antibiotic use is understood, managed, and governed within Norwegian salmon aquaculture. Although Norway is known for maintaining exceptionally low antibiotic use in aquaculture, less is known about the mechanisms and processes through which this is achieved and sustained. The aim of this study was therefore to examine how different actors understand antibiotic use in relation to fish health, disease management, and regulatory responsibility. The study is based on qualitative interviews with 12 participants, including veterinarians, fish farmers, local political representatives, and community members, supported by field visits and observational notes, and analyzed through thematic analysis informed by political ecology. Findings show that low antibiotic use is closely linked to vaccination, preventive fish health strategies, and strong regulatory systems based on prescription control, reporting, and surveillance. The study further shows that antibiotic use extends beyond a technical issue, and is closely connected to governance, professional responsibility, trust, and legitimacy. The thesis concludes that maintaining low antibiotic use in Norwegian salmon aquaculture depends not only on veterinary knowledge and regulation, but also on cooperation, public trust, and shared responsibility between authorities, professionals, industry actors, and local communities.

• Eilertsen, Maja; Omsland, Tone Kristin; Nes, Ragnhild Bang & Czajkowski, Nikolai Olavi (2026). Biopsychosocial outcomes of wellbeing-promoting interventions: when life wears you down. Universitetet i Oslo. ISSN 9788234808890. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Wellbeing-promoting interventions may help counteract the effect of stress across biological, psychological, and social domains, although the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Situated within public health and health promotion research, this thesis explored the potential of such interventions to improve wellbeing, health, social connection, and work participation, particularly among adults facing health and social challenges. The first study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials examining the effects of positive psychology interventions on biological markers of stress, including inflammatory biomarkers and cortisol. The findings indicated a modest but significant effect on inflammatory biomarkers, supporting the view that wellbeing interventions may positively influence biological processes. The second study evaluated the Five Ways to Wellbeing course among 373 participants in municipal health services. Participation was associated with sustained improvements in wellbeing, social connection, and self-rated health. Mental health outcomes improved more than in a comparable group of 524 individuals receiving Healthy Life Centre services. The third study was a randomized controlled trial of the Five Ways to Wellbeing course among 171 adults receiving support from NAV. Although recruitment difficulties and attrition limited statistical power and precluded firm conclusions regarding effectiveness, the study highlighted the challenges of conducting intervention research in welfare settings. Overall, the findings support the view that wellbeing is a modifiable resource that may strengthen resilience to stress across biological, psychological, and social domains. The thesis highlights the potential of wellbeing-promoting interventions to improve biological as well as psychological and social outcomes, while underscoring the need for pragmatic research designs that can be implemented in health and welfare services.

• Abildsnes, Eirik; Enehaug, Heidi; Hellang, Øyvind; Helmersen, Migle; Jentoft, Nina & Mølland, Eirin [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Inkluderingspartnerskap.Rapport fra et innovasjonsprosjekt om arbeidsinkludering i Kristiansand kommune. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet. ISSN 9788276095104. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Prosjektet har bidratt i programmet Flere i arbeid i Kristiansand kommune i utvikling av nye arbeidsformer basert på helsefremmende inkluderingskompetanse. Det er utviklet en ny styrings- og samhandlingsplattform for arbeidsinkludering som inkluderer kommune, fylkeskommune, Nav og næringsforeningen i Kristiansandsregionen som sikrer videreføring av samarbeid om arbeidsinkludering etter at programmet Flere i arbeid ble avsluttet. Prosjektet har bidratt til organisatorisk læring ved hjelp av aksjonsforskning og tjenesteinnovasjonsmetodikk og det er gjennomført en effektstudie som belyser virkningen av tiltak i programmet Flere i arbeid. Hovedelementer har vært å videreutvikle Hybridmodellen med særlig vekt på hvordan modellen bidrar til utvikling av helsefremmende inkluderingskompetanse på arbeidsplassen og i Nav. Hybridmodellen innebærer at Nav-veiledere arbeider direkte med arbeidsgivere og dedikerte mentorer på arbeidsplassen.

• Eick, Frode; Fjeld, Heidi; Lichtwarck, Hanne Ochieng & Krogstadmo, Kjerstine Wanvik (2026). Navigating Complexity: General Practitioners' Experiences of Providing Healthcare to Migrants with Temporary Identification in Oslo. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Navigating Complexity: General Practitioners’ Experiences of Providing Healthcare to Migrants with Temporary Identification in Oslo Background: Migrants with temporary identification may face barriers to accessing ordinary healthcare services, and healthcare provision for this patient group varies across municipalities in Norway. In Oslo, access to care is organized through a municipal arrangement involving voluntary participation by general practitioners (GPs). Previous research has examined migrants’ access to healthcare, but limited attention has been given to how GPs experience providing care for this population within such arrangements. This study explores how GPs in Oslo experience and perceive providing healthcare to migrants with temporary identification and how they understand the organization of these services. Method: This study employed a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach. I conducted semi-structured interviews with six GPs in Oslo who had experience providing care for migrants with temporary identification through the municipal arrangement. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The analysis identified four central themes: demanding clinical encounters, practical and organizational burden on the GP office, lack of institutional responsibility and system structure, and motivation, ethical dilemmas and declining engagement. The findings illustrate that the GPs were generally motivated to provide care due to altruism, professional responsibility and available capacity in their practices. However, language barriers, interpreter use, fragmented follow-up, increasing workloads, financial uncertainty and lack of institutional structure made the work increasingly difficult to sustain over time. Responsibility for healthcare provision was largely placed on individual GPs and GP offices rather than being coordinated within broader institutional structures. Conclusion: The findings raise concerns related to continuity of care, sustainability and equitable access to healthcare, as access becomes dependent on local organization, voluntary engagement and capacity within general practice. The study underscores the need for clearer institutional responsibility, as well as stronger structural, financial and organizational support, to ensure more sustainable and equitable healthcare provision for migrants with temporary identification.

• Oslo, Main supervisor: Mekdes Gebremariam, Professor, University of; Oslo, Co-supervisor: Tormod Rogne, Professor, University of & Battogtokh, Oyundari (2026). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Preparedness of Health Workers Regarding Climate Change-Related Health Impacts: A Systematic Review. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  --- Abstract will be published: 2028-05-11

• Mmbaga, Elia; (Co-supervisor), Dr Nouraiz Ali & Ramzan, Zainab (2026). The Influence of Gender Norms and Stigma on the Needs and Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among adolescents in Pakistan: A Cross-sectional Study. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Pakistani adolescents experience disproportionately poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, influenced by patriarchal gender norms and a pervasive social stigma that discourage care-seeking by instilling shame and fear of being judged and socially excluding a group. Although there is a large body of qualitative data describing these barriers, limited quantitative data is available to measure the magnitude and the relation of these barriers with the use of SRH services among urban teenagers. Aim and Objectives: The reason behind this study was to estimate the level of, and the impact of gender norms and perceived stigma on SRH service access among adolescents aged 1527 in Lahore, Pakistan. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey of adolescents in communities and schools throughout New Lahore. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Four Likert-scale items (Cronbach’s 1 =.82) and five items (Cronbach’s 1 =.61) assessed perceived stigma and gender norms, respectively. The analyses were done using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and binary logistic regression. Results: The mean age of the participants was 22.68 years (SD = 2.84); the participants were mostly female (65.3%). Almost two thirds (64.2%) reported access to health services of any type, but only 23.3% reported having ever needed SRH services and 20.2% had attempted to access. The most common type of service (23.0%), and the most used setting (28.5%), were oral contraceptive pills at SRH seekers and the use of private hospitals/clinics, respectively. There were no differences between genders in terms of need and access to SRI (p > 0.05). Perceived stigma was moderate (Mean = 2.67, SD = 1.12; α= .82) and gender norms were near the scale midpoint (Mean= 2.98, SD = 0.90). Single respondents had a much higher stigma than their married counterparts (Mean = 2.76 vs. Mean = 2.27; p = 0.026). Logistic regression did not yield any significant predictor of access to services. Conclusion: The study offers the first quantitative evidence by the adolescent population in an urban Pakistani regarding the associations between perceived stigma, gender norms, and the utilization of the SRH services. Such a large disparity between general health access and SRH-specific access is indicative of demand-side barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health care. The increased stigma of the single respondents is a significant aspect that highlights the necessity of the SRH services that would be explicitly designed to be both accessible and non-judgmental to single youths. These results lead to the need to integrate SRH into regular care delivery, invest in digital health channels, enlist religious leaders as allies, and conduct larger probability-based research to develop adolescent SRH in Pakistan. Keywords: Sexual and reproductive health, Adolescents, Gender norms, stigma, Pakistan, Lahore, Cross-sectional study, Service access

• Muinde, Supervisor: Dr Jacinta Victoria S; Mohaupt, Co-supervisor: Henning & Lurås, Preciosa (2026). Exploring Services and Treatment for Persons Who Use Intimate Partner Violence in Norway. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health concern with profound social, mental, and economic consequences (Centers for Disease and Control [CDC], 2024). While policy efforts have traditionally focused on supporting victims, there is growing recognition of the need to address persons who use IPV through targeted interventions. Across Europe, initiatives such as Respect (UK), Agredis (Switzerland), and Dialogue Against Violence (Denmark) reflect a shift toward prevention-oriented approaches Work With Perpetrators - European Network [WWWP EN] (n.d.). Notably, Norway has a long tradition in offering services for persons who use IPV. It was also the first European country to establish professional therapeutic treatment for this group, Alternative to Violence (ATV) which was founded in Oslo in 1987 (Askeland et al., 2016). This study explores how Norway’s services and treatment programmes for persons who use IPV are structured and delivered. It focuses on how professionals (hereafter service providers) engage with therapeutic practices, how these are shaped by IPV frameworks, and how service providers navigate related challenges. Using qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews with 10 service providers and one government representative, alongside policy document analysis, the research examines how institutional frameworks structure both access to and delivery of treatment. Guided by a feminist-informed ecological framework, the study situated IPV within intersecting layers of individual, relational, institutional, and societal dynamics. Reflexive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach was used to identify key patterns in the data. Findings reveal how professionals balance therapeutic engagement with structural constraints, offering insight into the complexities of implementing and delivering treatment and services for persons who use IPV.

• Supervisor:; PhD, Andrea Solnes Miltenburg, MD,; Co-supervisors:; PhD, Benedikte Victoria Lindskog,; PhD, Joseph Mwanga, & Mohamad, Layal (2026). A Qualitative Study Exploring the Influence of Informal Care Provision in Pregnancy and Childbirth with a Focus on (Pre-eclampsia) ´ Kifafa cha mimba’ in Mwanza, Tanzania. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  --- Abstract will be published: 2029-05-11

• Gele, Main Supervisor: Professor Abdi; Gebremariam, Co-Supervisor: Professor Mekdes & Chola, Lister Funganisha (2026). Perceptions of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among African Immigrants in Norway. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  --- Abstract and files will be published: 2027-05-11

• Cramariuc, Dana; Madar, Ahmed Ali; Dregoesc, Ioana & Anderlik, Marta (2026). Impact of sex, overweight and obesity on cardiac remodeling and clinical outcomes in Romanian patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a registry-based study. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Ischemic heart disease disproportionately affects Eastern Europe and is the leading cause of death in Romania. Despite this burden, sex-related differences in clinical care, ventricular remodeling, and outcomes after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) among Romanian patients are incompletely characterized. Methods: We prospectively analyzed 1085 STEMI patients (777 men and 308 women) enrolled in the Romanian Registry for Post-myocardial Infarction Left Ventricular Remodeling and Heart Failure Prevention (REDEFINE-HF) between 2020 and 2023. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was performed in 130 patients at baseline and at 6 months. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Results: Overweight and obesity affected 794 patients (73% of the cohort) with similar prevalence in women and men. Women exhibited a higher burden of cardiovascular risk factors, longer total ischemic times, and larger infarct sizes than men (p<0.05). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) restored normal epicardial flow in 78% of women versus 86% of men, and significant ischemic mitral regurgitation developed in 23% of women versus 15% of men (p<0.01). Female sex, diabetes, and the extent of acute myocardial injury were associated with larger 6-month scar sizes on CMR (p<0.01). In Kaplan-Meier analysis, 3-year mortality was 27% in women versus 17% in men (p<0.001), and 29% in patients with normal weight compared with 21% in those with overweight and obesity (p<0.05). In multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusting for age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, baseline troponin T, renal function and glycemia, and restored epicardial flow at PCI, overall survival was comparable between sexes. Separate Cox models by sex identified diabetes as an independent predictor of mortality in women, while overweight/obesity was associated with lower adjusted mortality only in men. Conclusions: In this Romanian STEMI cohort, women presented with more advanced disease, longer ischemic delays, and greater relative infarct burden, which largely accounted for their higher crude mortality. Overweight and obesity were associated with lower unadjusted mortality, but after adjustment this apparent protective effect persisted only in men. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health measures and sex-specific follow-up strategies for patients at risk of, or with established, ischemic heart disease in this region. Keywords: myocardial infarction, cardiac remodeling, sex, overweight, obesity, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, registry

• (supervisor), Ruby del Risco Kollerud; (Co-supervisor), Elia Mmbaga & Raihan, Sk Golam (2026). INFECTION-RELATED HEALTHCARE CONSULTATIONS AMONG YOUNG LEUKEMIA SURVIVORS: A POPULATION-BASED STUDY. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Objectives Leukemia remains one of the top 10 causes of death in children and young adults in the world. Modern medicine has dramatically improved the outcome of the disease, but the post-treatment mortality due to community-acquired infection is about four times higher compared to their peers. Since very few studies have ventured into this specific area, the aim was to find relevant infections that caused increased morbidity in young adults surviving leukaemia. This study, therefore, scrutinized infection-related consultations with general practitioners and emergency primary care services among young leukemia survivors compared to individuals of the same age group without cancer. Methodology The national population registry was used to collect the primary data for this population-based study, including information from the Cancer Registry of Norway. The records of GP and emergency health services were extracted from the Norwegian Control and payment of Health Reimbursement Register (KUHR). A comparison was drawn between the cancer-surviving patients and the non-cancer control group of the same age group (18-35) between 2006 and 2020. Infection-related consultations were identified using ICPC-2 codes. The course of visit (infectious) was analyzed using logistic regression, and the results were stratified based on the subtypes of leukaemia (myeloid and lymphoid) and the year of survival after diagnosis (2-10 years). Results The study included 268 leukemia survivors and a comparison group of 1336487 individuals without cancer. Overall consultation frequency was similar between cases and non- cases, but leukemia survivors had higher odds of consultation for selected infections. In comparison to the total population, these leukemia survivors had elevated odds for upper respiratory and ear–nose–throat infections, lower respiratory tract infections, lymphatic infections, viral infections, and mucosal infections. These patterns varied by leukemia subtypes and persisted across the follow-up period up to 10 years of diagnosis. Lower odds were observed for some other infection-related consultations, which included gastrointestinal infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. Conclusion Young survivors of Leukemia had elevated odds of seeking primary health care services for selected infection-related conditions compared to individuals without cancer. The findings suggest a need for continued and vigilant clinical awareness of infection-related morbidity after leukemia, particularly respiratory infections and viral infections, while recognizing that registry-based consultation data reflect healthcare use rather than confirmed infection incidence. Further study is needed to evaluate the risk of such infections, keeping in mind the modern medicine and hygiene practices in the community

• Banister, David; Münster, Daniel & Eklund, Noora (2026). Evolving Traditions in Ghanaian Traditional Medicine: Perceptions of Change and Adaptation. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Traditional medicine remains a central component of healthcare across much of Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is closely tied to local environments, cultural practices, and systems of knowledge. This ethnographic study examines how Ghanaian herbal practitioners perceive changes in their practices and how they respond to these changes in the context of social, environmental, and religious transformations. Traditional medicine represents both a cultural heritage and a practical health resource, yet it faces pressures from ecological shifts, population growth, changing religious practices, and evolving social norms. This study explored practitioners’ experiences, perceptions of the drivers of change, and views on the future of traditional medicine in Ghana. The research employed a qualitative design, including ten group interviews and ten individual interviews. Findings indicate that participants perceive significant changes in ecological conditions, spiritual engagement, and access to medicinal plants. Adaptation strategies include cultivating plants in household gardens, preserving knowledge through teaching and documentation, maintaining spiritual traditions, and engaging with institutional structures such as licensing. Participants expressed both concern and hope regarding the continuity of herbal knowledge, emphasizing its cultural and practical significance for future generations. The study argues that Ghanaian traditional medicine is a dynamic, adaptive tradition, shaped by environmental, religious, and social factors. Understanding these changes highlights the resilience of local knowledge systems and the ways communities negotiate continuity and innovation in traditional health practices.

• Eick, Frode; Høyvik, Ann Catrin & Naqvi, Sidra (2026). Oral Health Inequities among Undocumented Migrants in Norway: A Cross-Sectional Quantitative Study. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Fjeld, Heidi; Sacad, Leyla & Fjeld, Heidi (2026). When legislation meets practice. A qualitative study exploring experiences of encountering and providing healthcare to undocumented migrants in the Oslo Accident and Emergency Outpatient Clinic [Legevakten]. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  --- Abstract and files will be published: 2027-05-11

• Omsland, Tone Kristin; Madar, Ahmed & Valiunaite, Kamile (2026). Time Trends and Sociodemographic Patterns of Prescribed Weight-Loss Drugs (Ozempic and Wegovy) in Norway: A Register-based Study. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Introduction Prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing in Norway. Pharmacological treatment, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists including Ozempic and Wegovy, has become available as an effective treatment strategy. However, recent population-level demographic trends in prescribing patterns have not been well described. Aim To describe time trends and sociodemographic patterns in prescriptions and new use of Ozempic and Wegovy in Norway, 2019-2024. Methods This nationwide register-based study used aggregated data from the Norwegian Prescribed Drug Register and Statistics Norway to compare rates by sex, age, year, and region. New users aged 18-79 years were identified with a 2004-2018 wash-out period. Age-standardized rates per 1000 inhabitants were calculated, and Poisson regression was used to estimate incidence rate ratios. Results In total, 245,924 new users were included, of whom 61.9% were women. Rates were highest in individuals aged 50-69 years and higher among women (IRR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.61-1.63). Ozempic rates rose until 2022 before declining. Wegovy was introduced in 2023, after which prescription rates shifted rapidly, especially among women and middle-aged adults. Regional trends in prescription rates were similar. Conclusion Prescription patterns of GLP-1 analogues in Norway shifted rapidly from Ozempic to Wegovy with marked differences by sex, age, and region, indicating a substantial unmet demand for this type of drugs. However, the wide use raises several concerns about long-term safety, costs, sustainability, and equitable access.

• Moen, Supervisor Kåre; Orning, Co-Supervisor Sara Elisabeth Sellevold & Thumm, Daniel (2026). Beyond Avoiding Harm: Exploring Gender Euphoria during Gender-Affirming Care - a Qualitative Study. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Based on 18 repeated semi-structured interviews with 10 trans patients, this thesis aims to explore how gender euphoria emerged among trans patients during gender-affirming care. Research on transgender health has predominantly focused on distress, discrimination and gender dysphoria, often neglecting the positive dimensions of trans experience. This study responds to that gap by exploring gender euphoria among trans patients receiving gender-affirming care. Drawing on Sara Ahmed's queer phenomenology and psychological appraisal theory, gender euphoria was conceptualised as a relational positive emotional experience Data was collected with patients who received surgical gender-affirming care at the Centre for Gender Variance (SPGV) at Universitätsspital Basel (USB), Switzerland and analysed through thematic analysis. The analysis identified four relational themes through which gender euphoria was experienced: the hospital as institution, the body, the interpersonal relations during care, and the care itself. This study found that gender euphoria did not require the absence of difficulty, it frequently coexisted with pain, exhaustion and physical limitation. Trans patients also engaged in active emotional labour to create conditions for affirmation, including strategic self-presentation and taking the lead in their own care process. The hospital emerged not as the primary site of gender euphoria but as a starting point, with euphoric experiences intensifying in the period following discharge. These findings offer a strength-based approach to trans health, showing that positive emotions in gender-affirming care exist and under which circumstances they can arise. Recognising gender euphoria alongside hardship produces a fuller picture of trans patients experience in the hospital that can inform affirming healthcare in the future. Keywords: gender euphoria, gender-affirming care, trans health, qualitative research, phenomenology, Switzerland

• Muinde, Dr Jacinta Victoria S & Flønes, Johanne (2026). "Det finnes ingen universalløsning" Nav-ansattes erfaringer med arbeid med brukere med flyktningbakgrunn og helseutfordringer. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This master’s project examines how employees and counsellors in the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (Nav) experience and navigate their work with adult users who have refugee backgrounds and face health-challenges, while collaborating with the health sector. The study employs a qualitative case study design, grounded in an interpretivist epistemology that views knowledge as socially constructed and context dependent. This approach emphasizes participants’ subjective experiences and meaning-making processes, supported by a phenomenological sensitivity to everyday practices in frontline welfare work. The design is well suited to generating in-depth insights into the complex relationship between health, migration, and labour market integration. The analysis is informed by street-level bureaucracy, which provides a framework for understanding how frontline workers interpret and implement policy in practice. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight Nav employees, including six frontline counsellors and two subject-matter experts across three Nav-offices, recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive and iterative approach, enabling the identification of patterns while remaining sensitive to context and complexity. Keywords: Nav, health challenges, refugee background, qualitative research, welfare services

• Gradmann, Christoph & L, Paterson, Erin (2026). Pipelines and Pipedreams: The Crises and the Futures of Antibiotic Drug Development. Zenodo. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.20812280. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The edition contains an introduction and two transcriptions of roundtable discussions that were held 8.11.2024 in Strasbourg (Lieu d’Europe). They are documenting work by the project: "How did the antibiotic pipeline run dry, funded by the Research Council of Norway" (RCN 314490).

• Øien-Ødegaard, Carine; Reneflot, Anne; Christiansen, Solveig Tobie Glestad & Bjertness, Espen (2026). Exploring labor market attachment and suicide: A registry-based study of Norwegian adults. Universitetet i Oslo. ISSN 9788234808425. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Individuals dying by suicide form a heterogenous group in terms of labor market attachment. About half have low labor market attachment and receive welfare benefits at the time of death. Still, a substantial part of those who die by suicide has high labor market attachment. This thesis explores the relationship between labor market attachment and suicide among the adult population of Norway. The thesis provides a comprehensive investigation by using population-wide Norwegian administrative register data. Utilizing event history analysis, differences in suicide risk between the employed and non-employed are calculated. Patterns of healthcare usage prior to suicide stratified by socioeconomic status is assessed through chi square tests for association. Labor market trajectories the decade prior to suicide are identified by using group-based trajectory modelling. The non-employed have higher suicide risk than the employed. There are various labor market trajectories into non-employment. Some have continuously low labor market attachment, while others have declining or fleeting labor market attachment before receiving welfare benefits at the time of death. Those with high labor market attachment maintains this position almost the entire decade prior to suicide. This group is particularly overrepresented by men. The gender balance is more even among those with low labor market attachment. Women utilize healthcare services to a greater extent than men, regardless of socioeconomic status. Those with higher education have higher mental healthcare usage the last year and month prior to suicide. Employed men, especially with high income, have low levels of healthcare utilization prior to suicide. For this group, suicide prevention in the workplace could be valuable. Increasing labor market attachment can have suicide preventive results for some individuals. For those unable to work, the social support and financial situation should be at a level enabling a life worth living.

• Meyer, Haakon Eduard & Maduoma, Obianuju Ifeoma (2026). USE OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AND LIPID-MODIFYING MEDICATIONS AMONG IMMIGRANTS IN NORWAY: A REGISTER-BASED, CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  ABSTRACT Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to highlight differences in the prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidaemia treatment between immigrants in Norway and the Norwegian-born population, with a special emphasis on immigrants from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, parallels were drawn between the findings of this study and those of a previous publication examining differences in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction and stroke between immigrants and Norwegian-born individuals. Methods: All medications used to treat hypertension and/or dyslipidaemia, dispensed to registered Norwegian residents aged 30-79 years in 2023, were identified from the Norwegian Prescription Database, which has also been linked to demographic data from Statistics Norway. Predictive margins from logistic regression models were used to calculate age-adjusted prevalences of antihypertensive and/or lipid-modifying medication use and to estimate the relative differences in the prevalence of preventive cardiovascular medication use (prevalence ratios) between immigrant groups and the Norwegian-born population. Results: We found a higher age-adjusted prevalence of use of antihypertensive and/or lipid-modifying medications among immigrants from South Asia than among Norwegian-born individuals, with age-adjusted prevalence ratios of 1.14 (95% CI 1.12-1.16), 1.52 (95% CI 1.49-1.54), and 1.23 (95% CI 1.22-1.25) for antihypertensive, lipid-modifying, and both medications, respectively, among men, and 1.23 (95% CI 1.21-1.26), 1.56 (95% CI 1.52-1.60), and 1.25 (95% CI 1.23-1.27) for antihypertensive, lipid-modifying, and both medications, respectively, among women. Moreover, the age-adjusted prevalence of lipid-modifying medication use was higher than that of antihypertensive medication use in this group. By contrast, immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa had a lower prevalence of treatment for both hypertension and dyslipidaemia than native Norwegians. Conclusion: In 2023, immigrants from South Asia consumed more antihypertensive and/or lipid-modifying medications, particularly the latter, than the Norwegian-born population, whereas immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa consumed less. This finding coincided with the higher cardiovascular disease risk in South Asian immigrant populations than in the native Norwegian population, as previously documented by the NCDNOR project. For immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa, the relationship between the prevalence of preventive cardiovascular medication use and cardiovascular disease risk was less clear.

• PRINCE, RUTH & GRINAGER, NICOLE (2026). Exploring Community Perceptions of Pesticide Use and Its Impact on Human and Environmental Health in Southeastern South Dakota. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Pesticide use is widespread across agricultural, municipal, and residential settings in the United States and has been associated with potential human, animal, and environmental health risks. This qualitative study examines community perceptions of pesticide use in southeastern South Dakota, a region where large-scale agriculture coexists with urban and suburban populations. The study aimed to explore awareness, perceived risks and benefits, factors influencing pesticide use, and perceived barriers and motivators for change. Guided by the socio-ecological model, the study employed an ethnographically informed qualitative design, gathering data through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document review. Twenty participants representing farmers, healthcare professionals, city employees, and rural and urban residents were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Findings indicate that pesticide use is widely normalized and frequently framed as necessary for productivity, public health, and landscape management. Although participants acknowledged potential health and environmental risks, uncertainty, competing economic pressures, and structural influences—such as crop insurance, market expectations, and sociocultural norms—often limited changes in practice. Health concerns were commonly recognized but overshadowed by immediate economic and operational risks. These findings highlight pesticide use as a socio-ecological phenomenon shaped by interconnected structural and cultural factors, underscoring the importance of incorporating community perspectives into environmental health and agricultural policy discussions.

• Meyer, Haakon; Heen, Espen & List, Saskia Sabrina (2026). 24-hour Urine Volume in General Adult Female Populations in Low- and Middle-Income Countries – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  --- Abstract and files will be published: 2028-02-10

• Bjerke, Lise; Lie, Anne Kveim; Fjeld, Heidi E; Gradmann, Christoph; Roalkvam, Sidsel & Kannuri, Nanda Kishore (2026). Antibiotics and India’s pharmaceutical industry: An exploration of drug production and trade in globalised pharmaceutical geographies. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Antibiotics play complex roles in global health. While many still lack access, their massive use has contributed to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In addition, our supply of these life-saving drugs rests on intricate networks of globalised production and trade. This thesis explores the production and trade of antibiotics in India's pharmaceutical industry in the context of globalised pharmaceutical geographies and their histories. Situated within the interdisciplinary field of pharmaceutical studies, the thesis draws on perspectives from medical anthropology, history, and science and technology studies, and is based on document and trade data analysis combined with ethnographic fieldwork in India. The thesis shows how India’s pharmaceutical industry has become a major global supplier of antibiotics, while also grappling with the reliance on China’s industry for the import of antibiotic ingredients, and the environmental challenges accompanying the industrial manufacturing of antibiotics. The thesis demonstrates that, despite major trade tensions, collaboration and competition coexist in the China-India nexus of antibiotic supply chains. The thesis also challenges the often taken-for-granted status of drugs as simply bare chemical molecules, showing how antibiotics take on multiple and sometimes clashing identities depending on the practices, relations and politics in which they are involved. A key contribution of the thesis is its focus on the environmental aspect of antibiotics and AMR. By analysing the science-policy response to industrial antibiotic pollution and AMR in India, it shows how various uncertainties at the molecular level are used to challenge scientific claims and the imposition of discharge limits. As the forces underlying antibiotic pollution extend beyond the molecular and local scale, the thesis emphasises the need to address the broader global dynamics that shape drug manufacturing and the rise of AMR in environments and beyond.

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