Director of the Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM) 2017-2025
Follow me on Twitter
@SidselRoalkvam
Academic Interests
- Global Health
- Maternal and Child Health
- HIV and AIDS
- Crisis
- Community Capacity
- Religion and illness
- Gender
Background
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Professor, Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM) University of Oslo, 2018-
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Centre Director, Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM) University of Oslo, 2017-
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Associate Professor, Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM) University of Oslo, 2007-2017
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Associate Professor (20 %) of the Master Program Religion and Society at the Faculty of Theology University of Oslo, 2002-2009
- Associate Professor / Head of Unit Department of Research and Development, International Unit, Diakonhjemmet University College Oslo, 1997-2002
- Post.Doc. The faculty of Medicine University of Oslo 1997-2002
Positions held
- Academic Director of LEVE – Livelihoods in Developing Countries, an Interfaculty Research Area at UiO.
- Project director, the interdisciplinary project SUM-Medic: Explaining Differential Immunization Coverage a Multi-Disciplinary Approach
Partners
Tags:
Global Health,
Africa,
Asia,
India,
Global South,
Malawi
Publications
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Mishra, Arima & Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2014).
The Reproductive Body and the State: Engaging with the National Rural Health Mission in Tribal Odisha.
In Nielsen, Kenneth Bo & Waldrop, Anne (Ed.),
Women, Gender and Everyday Social Transformation in India.
Anthem Press.
ISSN 9781783082698.
p. 123–137.
Full text in Research Archive
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Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2014).
The Reproductive Body and the State: Engaging with the National Rural Health Mission in Tribal Odisha.
In Nielsen, Kenneth Bo & Waldrop, Anne (Ed.),
Women, Gender and Everyday Social Transformation in India.
Anthem Press.
ISSN 9781783082698.
p. 123–137.
Full text in Research Archive
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Varghese, Beena; Roy, Reetabrata; Saha, Somen & Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2014).
Fostering maternal and newborn care in India the Yashodaway: Does this improve maternal and newborn care practices during institutional delivery?
PLOS ONE.
9(1).
doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0084145.
Full text in Research Archive
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McNeill, Desmond; Roalkvam, Sidsel & Blume, Stuart
(2013).
Concepts and Approaches.
In Roalkvam, Sidsel; McNeill, Desmond & Blume, Stuart (Ed.),
Protecting the World's Children: Immunisation policies and Practices.
Oxford University Press.
ISSN 9780199666447.
p. 31–58.
Full text in Research Archive
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Roalkvam, Sidsel; Mishra, Arima & Hasjia, Shefali
(2013).
Numerical Narratives Accounts of lay health workers in India.
In Mishra, Arima & Chatterjee, Suhita C. (Ed.),
Multiple Voices and Stories: Narratives of Health and Illness.
Orient BlackSwan.
ISSN 9788125053798.
p. 121–140.
Full text in Research Archive
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Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2012).
Stripped of Rights in the Pursuit of the Good: The Politics of Gender and the Reproductive Body in Rajasthan, India.
In Nielsen, Kenneth Bo & Bjørkdahl, Kristian (Ed.),
Development and Environment: Practices, Theories, Policies.
Akademisk Forlag.
ISSN 9788232100330.
p. 243–256.
Full text in Research Archive
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Nordfeldt, Cecilie & Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2010).
Choosing vaccination: Negotiating child protection and good citizenship in modern India :.
Forum for Development Studies.
ISSN 0803-9410.
37(3),
p. 327–347.
doi:
10.1080/08039410.2010.513402.
Full text in Research Archive
Show summary
A global effort exists today to reach every child worldwide with vaccines. To get there, success in India is deemed cruical by international actors. Despite extensive international resources put into the universal immunization programme in India over the past 25 years, immunization rates remain low. This article explores how socio-cultural realities in rural North India influence implementation of this effort, and questions the idea that vaccines can provide a quick-fix road to health improvement.
The authors identify three interfaces in rural vaccination programmes: between different knowledge systems; between social classes; and between government and citizens. At these interfaces they explore the role of a new cadre of community health workers (ASHA), deployed as a governmental tool under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), a fresh state health initiative.
Despite a new language of community participation under the NRHM, reaching top-down targets remains the main objective set for health workers. Furthermore, information strategies present vaccination as the moral choice according to national needs, catering to discourses in Indian society ultimately legitimizing social inequalities. Choosing to vaccinate becomes a statement of belonging to the modern, implying a high moral status. Marginalized groups, conversely, are blamed for not being part of that moral community. Nonparticipation in the programme may represent a wish for dignity and a moral community of one’s own. The authors call for a changed focus in preventive health care, in order to reach all parts of the population: quality of delivery, local knowledge and structural constraints must be addressed.
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Salomonsen, Jone & Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2010).
Making Strong. Women, Aids and Rites of Protection/Alteration.
Journal of Constructive Theology.
ISSN 1025-5648.
2(16),
p. 25–47.
Full text in Research Archive
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Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2009).
Protective Societies and Protective Spaces: Enduring AIDS in Mpophomeni.
In Richardson, Neville (Eds.),
Broken Bodies and Healing Communities, faith-based responses to HIV and AIDS in South African township.
Cluster Publications Pietermaritzburg.
ISSN 9781875053827.
p. 13–22.
Full text in Research Archive
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Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2006).
Hvordan det umulige blir muliggjort på "Go shopping@fertilemarket.com".
In Grimen, Harald & Ingstad, Benedicte (Ed.),
Kulturelle perspektiver på sykdom og helse.
Universitetsforlaget.
ISSN 9788215009537.
p. 111–127.
Full text in Research Archive
View all works in NVA
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Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2022).
Heidi Østbø Haugen og May-Len Skilbrei Håndbok i forskningsetikk og databehandling Bergen: Fagbokforlaget 2021, ISBN: 978-82-450-3451-6.
Norsk antropologisk tidsskrift.
ISSN 0802-7285.
33(2),
p. 181–183.
doi:
10.18261/nat.33.2.14.
Full text in Research Archive
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Strang, Johan Emil; Roalkvam, Sidsel; Neumann, Iver Brynild & Larsen, Eirinn
(2021).
Nordic cooperation, identities and branding.
Full text in Research Archive
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Storeng, Katerini Tagmatarchi; Roalkvam, Sidsel & Asaduzzaman, Muhammad
(2019).
Action to protect the independence and integrity of global health research.
BMJ Global Health.
4.
doi:
10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001746.
Full text in Research Archive
Show summary
The tensions between research ethics and the wider politics of the global health field are increasingly recognised. However, the repercussions of these tensions for individuals and research institutions need careful consideration. While ‘rocking the boat’ is uncomfortable and may threaten individual career progression and research institutions’ external income, biased evidence can harm health programme beneficiaries and public trust in research. There are certainly no simple, fail-safe, technocratic quick fixes to resolving issues of power and politics, but the ideas proposed here should at least create better relationships between the institutions involved in commissioning, undertaking and publishing research, and feed into more sophisticated and thoughtful mechanisms of accountability, which do not simply re-enforce existing frameworks that favour accountability towards donors. The ideas we propose should be considered within broader discussions on how to address north–south power imbalances within the research community, and will hopefully catalyse wider action on protecting the independence of public universities and other research institutions globally. We believe this is necessary to enable researchers to hold power to account and advance informed and healthy debate on issues of public interest.
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Kildal, Charlotte L; Holsten, Hilde Hartmann; Puyvallée, Antoine de Bengy & Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2017).
Norges ebola-repons endret seg da en norsk kvinne ble smittet.
[Journal].
Forskning.no.
Full text in Research Archive
Show summary
Norge ga mer penger til krisehåndtering da den norske kvinnen ble ebola-smittet. Men det første ikke nødvendigvis til bedre hjelp, ifølge masterstudent.
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Roalkvam, Sidsel & Pot, Hanneke
(2016).
Global policies, local fragmentation: the impact of International NGOs on health development.
Full text in Research Archive
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Roalkvam, Sidsel; Pot, Hanneke & Kloster, Maren Olene
(2016).
Global policies, local fragmentation: the impact of International NGOs on health development.
Full text in Research Archive
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Roalkvam, Sidsel; Kloster, Maren Olene & Pot, Hanneke
(2015).
The Girl Effect - What Happened to Gender and Development?
Full text in Research Archive
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Ottersen, Ole Petter; McNeill, Desmond; Dasgupta, Jashodhara; Scheel, Inger B. & Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2014).
Authors' reply.
The Lancet.
ISSN 0140-6736.
383(9926),
p. 1380–1381.
Full text in Research Archive
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Vogt, Yngve; Roalkvam, Sidsel; Jani-Bølstad, Jagrati; Gjøstein, Dagrunn Kyte & Mæstad, Ottar
(2012).
Belønner fødselshjelpere og fødende kvinner.
Full text in Research Archive
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Roalkvam, Sidsel; Nordfeldt, Cecilie & Flikke, Rune
(2008).
An anthropological approach to understanding differences in Immunization coverage.
Full text in Research Archive
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Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2005).
Spiritual and Religious Responses to HIV and AIDS and other Life Crisis in Mpophomeni Township, South Africa.
Full text in Research Archive
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Roalkvam, Sidsel
(2005).
Shielding Against Othering: Being Church in a South African Township. The Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo 10-11 November 2005.
Full text in Research Archive
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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.
Full text in Research Archive
Show summary
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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Roalkvam, Sidsel; Johannessen, Kai Ingolf & Molven, Olav
(2004).
En fremtidsrettet evaluering av Faglig etisk råd i Norsk Sykepleierforbund.
Norsk sykepleierforbund.
Full text in Research Archive
View all works in NVA
Published
Aug. 15, 2011 2:53 PM
- Last modified
July 30, 2025 10:56 AM
