Sharon Abramowitz
Biographic Data
| ID | 110782 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sharon Abramowitz |
| GIVEN NAMES | Sharon |
| FAMILY NAME | Abramowitz |
| SIGNATURE | ABRAMOWITZ S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3671-8842 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 119 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 22 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Community engagement for vaccine delivery in low- and middle-income countries and humanitarian settings
Vaccination is a critical public health intervention in humanitarian and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings, where populations face heightened risks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Community Engagement (CE) offers a pathway to address challenges related to local ownership, trust, and acceptance, yet its effectiveness in these contexts remain underexplored. We conducted an umbrella scoping review of published reviews to synthesise evi…
Community resilience to health emergencies
BACKGROUND: There is recognition of the importance of community resilience in mitigating long-term effects of health emergencies on communities. To guide policy and practice, conceptual clarity is needed on what community resilience involves and how it can be operationalised for community protection in ways that empower and strengthen local agency. OBJECTIVES: To identify the core components of community resilience to health emergencies using a s…
Mental health interventions in public health emergencies
The COVID-19 pandemic showed the significant impact of epidemics on mental health and illustrated gaps in public health and epidemic response systems’ ability to respond to mental health and psychosocial needs. This study sought to identify the most and least helpful mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) strategies and elements for intervention in epidemics. An online survey with open ended questions was circulated via professional netwo…
A rapid qualitative methods assessment and reporting tool for epidemic response as the outcome of a rapid review and expert consultation
During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Methods Sub-Group of the WHO COVID-19 Social Science Research Roadmap Working Group conducted a rapid evidence review of rapid qualitative methods (RQMs) used during epidemics. The rapid review objectives were to (1) synthesize the development, implementation, and uses of RQMs, including the data collection tools, research questions, research capacities, analytical approaches, and strategies use…
Data flows during public health emergencies in LMICs
A review and agenda for integrated disease models including social and behavioural factors
Impact of a free care policy on the utilisation of health services during an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
BACKGROUND: During past outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and other infectious diseases, health service utilisation declined among the general public, delaying health seeking behaviour and affecting population health. From May to July 2018, the Democratic Republic of Congo experienced an outbreak of EVD in Equateur province. The Ministry of Public Health introduced a free care policy (FCP) in both affected and neighbouring health zones. We e…
Integrating the social sciences in epidemic preparedness and response
BACKGROUND: The importance of integrating the social sciences in epidemic preparedness and response has become a common feature of infectious disease policy and practice debates. However to date, this integration remains inadequate, fragmented and under-funded, with limited reach and small initial investments. Based on data collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in this paper we analysed the variety of knowledge, infrastructure and funding gap…
Ebola
Reviewed by: Ebola: How a People's Science Helped End an Epidemic by Paul Richards Sharon Abramowitz Paul Richards, Ebola: How a People's Science Helped End an Epidemic. Chicago: zed Books, 2016. 300 pp. At a guest lecture given at Rutgers University in 2003, renowned anthropologist Tania Li made the point that she had not gone to the field seeking to write about violence in Southeast Asia. Instead, violence found her already in the field and dem…
Epidemics (Especially Ebola)
Anthropology's response to the West African Ebola epidemic was one of the most rapid and expansive anthropological interventions to a global health emergency in the discipline's history. This article sets forth the size and scale of the anthropological response and describes the protagonists, interventions, and priorities for anthropological engagement. It takes an inclusive approach to anthropological praxis by engaging with the work of nonanthr…
Community-based reports of morbidity, mortality, and health-seeking behaviours in four Monrovia communities during the West African Ebola epidemic
The goal of this study was to assess morbidity, mortality, and health-seeking behaviours during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Monrovia, Liberia. This study examined commonly reported symptoms of illness, pre-clinical diagnostic practices, typical healthcare-seeking strategies, and health resources available to populations, in order to identify salient needs and gaps in healthcare that would inform local emergency response efforts. Semi-structured in…
Humanitarian morals and money
The 2014 West African Ebola epidemic prompted reconsideration of West African health systems’ resilience to external shocks. To understand the post-conflict histories of West Africa’s health systems reconstruction, it is necessary to understand the health systems in place when the epidemic emerged. This paper recounts the debates that shaped Liberia’s post-conflict health sector from 2003 to 2014, with particular attention to 2006–2008, when two …
Community-Centered Responses to Ebola in Urban Liberia
BACKGROUND: The West African Ebola epidemic has demonstrated that the existing range of medical and epidemiological responses to emerging disease outbreaks is insufficient, especially in post-conflict contexts with exceedingly poor healthcare infrastructures. In this context, community-based responses have proven vital for containing Ebola virus disease (EVD) and shifting the epidemic curve. Despite a surge in interest in local innovations that e…
The open question
The open question: Medical anthropology and open access
Medical Humanitarianism
In recent years, anthropologists have become increasingly present in medical humanitarian situations as scholars, consultants, and humanitarian practitioners and have acquired insight into medical humanitarian policy and practice. In 2012, we implemented a poll on anthropology, health, and humanitarian practice in which 75 anthropologists discussed their experiences in medical humanitarianism. Our goal was to move beyond the existing anarchy of i…
Medical humanitarianism
Participant satisfaction with group and individual components of Adolescent Impact
Adolescent Impact, a developmentally targeted behavioral intervention aimed at decreasing risk behaviors and promoting health care adherence, was delivered to 83 HIV-infected youth, aged 13-21 years, receiving care in five urban HIV centers. Participants completed a patient satisfaction survey following the 12 part intervention consisting of seven groups and five individual sessions. A feedback questionnaire was also completed during each group s…
International Human Rights, Gender-Based Violence, and Local Discourses of Abuse in Postconflict Liberia
In this article we draw on three years of ethnographic observation of postconflict humanitarian intervention in Liberia to consider the process whereby global efforts in the areas of gender-based violence (GBV) and human rights are interacting with local debates over kinship, entitlement, personal rights, and social responsibility. This article draws upon Liberian narratives, complaints, and efforts to regulate, in a national context, social norm…
Trauma and Humanitarian Translation in Liberia
Healing in Peril
The poor have become rich, and the rich have become poor
Life in Crisis
Epidemics (Especially Ebola)
Anthropology's response to the West African Ebola epidemic was one of the most rapid and expansive anthropological interventions to a global health emergency in the discipline's history. This article sets forth the size and scale of the anthropological response and describes the protagonists, interventions, and priorities for anthropological engagement. It takes an inclusive approach to anthropological praxis by engaging with the work of nonanthr…
International Human Rights, Gender-Based Violence, and Local Discourses of Abuse in Postconflict Liberia
In this article we draw on three years of ethnographic observation of postconflict humanitarian intervention in Liberia to consider the process whereby global efforts in the areas of gender-based violence (GBV) and human rights are interacting with local debates over kinship, entitlement, personal rights, and social responsibility. This article draws upon Liberian narratives, complaints, and efforts to regulate, in a national context, social norm…
The poor have become rich, and the rich have become poor
Medical humanitarianism
Medical Humanitarianism
In recent years, anthropologists have become increasingly present in medical humanitarian situations as scholars, consultants, and humanitarian practitioners and have acquired insight into medical humanitarian policy and practice. In 2012, we implemented a poll on anthropology, health, and humanitarian practice in which 75 anthropologists discussed their experiences in medical humanitarianism. Our goal was to move beyond the existing anarchy of i…
Humanitarian morals and money
The 2014 West African Ebola epidemic prompted reconsideration of West African health systems’ resilience to external shocks. To understand the post-conflict histories of West Africa’s health systems reconstruction, it is necessary to understand the health systems in place when the epidemic emerged. This paper recounts the debates that shaped Liberia’s post-conflict health sector from 2003 to 2014, with particular attention to 2006–2008, when two …
The poor have become rich, and the rich have become poor
Healing in Peril
Trauma and Humanitarian Translation in Liberia
Participant satisfaction with group and individual components of Adolescent Impact
Adolescent Impact, a developmentally targeted behavioral intervention aimed at decreasing risk behaviors and promoting health care adherence, was delivered to 83 HIV-infected youth, aged 13-21 years, receiving care in five urban HIV centers. Participants completed a patient satisfaction survey following the 12 part intervention consisting of seven groups and five individual sessions. A feedback questionnaire was also completed during each group s…
International Human Rights, Gender-Based Violence, and Local Discourses of Abuse in Postconflict Liberia
In this article we draw on three years of ethnographic observation of postconflict humanitarian intervention in Liberia to consider the process whereby global efforts in the areas of gender-based violence (GBV) and human rights are interacting with local debates over kinship, entitlement, personal rights, and social responsibility. This article draws upon Liberian narratives, complaints, and efforts to regulate, in a national context, social norm…
Medical humanitarianism
Community-Centered Responses to Ebola in Urban Liberia
BACKGROUND: The West African Ebola epidemic has demonstrated that the existing range of medical and epidemiological responses to emerging disease outbreaks is insufficient, especially in post-conflict contexts with exceedingly poor healthcare infrastructures. In this context, community-based responses have proven vital for containing Ebola virus disease (EVD) and shifting the epidemic curve. Despite a surge in interest in local innovations that e…
The open question
The open question: Medical anthropology and open access
Medical Humanitarianism
In recent years, anthropologists have become increasingly present in medical humanitarian situations as scholars, consultants, and humanitarian practitioners and have acquired insight into medical humanitarian policy and practice. In 2012, we implemented a poll on anthropology, health, and humanitarian practice in which 75 anthropologists discussed their experiences in medical humanitarianism. Our goal was to move beyond the existing anarchy of i…
Community-based reports of morbidity, mortality, and health-seeking behaviours in four Monrovia communities during the West African Ebola epidemic
The goal of this study was to assess morbidity, mortality, and health-seeking behaviours during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Monrovia, Liberia. This study examined commonly reported symptoms of illness, pre-clinical diagnostic practices, typical healthcare-seeking strategies, and health resources available to populations, in order to identify salient needs and gaps in healthcare that would inform local emergency response efforts. Semi-structured in…
Humanitarian morals and money
The 2014 West African Ebola epidemic prompted reconsideration of West African health systems’ resilience to external shocks. To understand the post-conflict histories of West Africa’s health systems reconstruction, it is necessary to understand the health systems in place when the epidemic emerged. This paper recounts the debates that shaped Liberia’s post-conflict health sector from 2003 to 2014, with particular attention to 2006–2008, when two …
Ebola
Reviewed by: Ebola: How a People's Science Helped End an Epidemic by Paul Richards Sharon Abramowitz Paul Richards, Ebola: How a People's Science Helped End an Epidemic. Chicago: zed Books, 2016. 300 pp. At a guest lecture given at Rutgers University in 2003, renowned anthropologist Tania Li made the point that she had not gone to the field seeking to write about violence in Southeast Asia. Instead, violence found her already in the field and dem…
Epidemics (Especially Ebola)
Anthropology's response to the West African Ebola epidemic was one of the most rapid and expansive anthropological interventions to a global health emergency in the discipline's history. This article sets forth the size and scale of the anthropological response and describes the protagonists, interventions, and priorities for anthropological engagement. It takes an inclusive approach to anthropological praxis by engaging with the work of nonanthr…
Impact of a free care policy on the utilisation of health services during an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
BACKGROUND: During past outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and other infectious diseases, health service utilisation declined among the general public, delaying health seeking behaviour and affecting population health. From May to July 2018, the Democratic Republic of Congo experienced an outbreak of EVD in Equateur province. The Ministry of Public Health introduced a free care policy (FCP) in both affected and neighbouring health zones. We e…
Integrating the social sciences in epidemic preparedness and response
BACKGROUND: The importance of integrating the social sciences in epidemic preparedness and response has become a common feature of infectious disease policy and practice debates. However to date, this integration remains inadequate, fragmented and under-funded, with limited reach and small initial investments. Based on data collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in this paper we analysed the variety of knowledge, infrastructure and funding gap…
A review and agenda for integrated disease models including social and behavioural factors
A rapid qualitative methods assessment and reporting tool for epidemic response as the outcome of a rapid review and expert consultation
During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Methods Sub-Group of the WHO COVID-19 Social Science Research Roadmap Working Group conducted a rapid evidence review of rapid qualitative methods (RQMs) used during epidemics. The rapid review objectives were to (1) synthesize the development, implementation, and uses of RQMs, including the data collection tools, research questions, research capacities, analytical approaches, and strategies use…
Data flows during public health emergencies in LMICs
Life in Crisis
Community resilience to health emergencies
BACKGROUND: There is recognition of the importance of community resilience in mitigating long-term effects of health emergencies on communities. To guide policy and practice, conceptual clarity is needed on what community resilience involves and how it can be operationalised for community protection in ways that empower and strengthen local agency. OBJECTIVES: To identify the core components of community resilience to health emergencies using a s…
Mental health interventions in public health emergencies
The COVID-19 pandemic showed the significant impact of epidemics on mental health and illustrated gaps in public health and epidemic response systems’ ability to respond to mental health and psychosocial needs. This study sought to identify the most and least helpful mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) strategies and elements for intervention in epidemics. An online survey with open ended questions was circulated via professional netwo…
Community engagement for vaccine delivery in low- and middle-income countries and humanitarian settings
Vaccination is a critical public health intervention in humanitarian and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings, where populations face heightened risks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Community Engagement (CE) offers a pathway to address challenges related to local ownership, trust, and acceptance, yet its effectiveness in these contexts remain underexplored. We conducted an umbrella scoping review of published reviews to synthesise evi…
Medicine (15 works) · Political science (13 works) · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research (10 works) · Sociology (9 works) · Law (8 works) · Nursing (8 works) · Psychology (8 works) · Public health (8 works) · Health and Conflict Studies (6 works) · Psychiatry (6 works)