Bjarne Robberstad
Biographic Data
| ID | 1725475 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Bjarne Robberstad |
| GIVEN NAMES | Bjarne |
| FAMILY NAME | Robberstad |
| SIGNATURE | ROBBERSTAD B |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Bergen |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0708-2016 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 12 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
“I want to help my body”
Patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) are at risk of severe illness and death if infected by malaria, and lifelong prophylaxis is recommended to individuals in malaria endemic regions. Although its efficacy is declining due to parasite resistance, the antimalarial drug Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) is still given to patients with SCA in several countries of sub-Saharan Africa. A clinical trial was performed to compare SP with Dihydroartemisin…
Severe malarial anaemia in childhood is associated with decreased long-term household wealth
Our findings indicate that severe malarial anaemia in childhood, but not other forms of severe malaria, may be associated with decreased household wealth 4 to 20 years later. Controlling malaria in low-resource settings could protect poor households from worse socioeconomic index over time
The economic burden and catastrophic health expenditures among children with sickle cell anaemia on households in malaria-endemic areas
Households with children with SCA incur high expenditures, which are catastrophic for a substantial proportion of them. Malaria episodes, hospitalisation and wealth status significantly increase the economic burden on households. Targeted interventions are needed to alleviate this financial strain, reduce disparities and improve outcomes for vulnerable households. Enhancing access to improved treatment strategies, such as effective malaria preven…
"Can you bury him before he dies?" Sickle cell disease and social sites of suffering in Malawi and Uganda
In health-related research, experience of illness is commonly characterised by its physical signs and symptoms. However, the experience of illness also extends past the patients' bodily aches and ailments to influence, and possibly impair, their social interactions. Despite its relational ramifications, the field of medicine has not awarded enough attention towards social dimensions of suffering nor the ways in which chronic disease may change an…
Comparing the cost-effectiveness of the MPT64-antigen detection test to Xpert MTB/RIF and ZN-microscopy for the diagnosis of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis
Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) poses challenges from patient and health system perspectives. The cost-effectiveness analysis of the Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) test to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis is documented. However, there are no economic evaluations for EPTB. Considering the reported better diagnostic sensitivity of the MPT64 test, this study explored its cost-effectiveness as an alternative diagnostic test. We conducted this economic evalu…
Social contact patterns during the early Covid-19 pandemic in Norway
Social contacts declined significantly in the months following the March 2020 lockdown, aligning with implementation of stringent social distancing measures. These findings contribute valuable empirical information into the social behaviour in Norway during the early pandemic, which can be used to enhance policy-relevant models for addressing future crises when mitigation measures might be implemented
Whatever is bad goes back to the woman
Mothers are commonly blamed for the ill-health of their children, and this is well documented in research. However, few studies have considered gendered patterns of blame for hereditary conditions caused by mutations from both parents through dual, shared genetic inheritance. This paper explores the 'gendering' of blame in the context of an inherited blood disorder known as sickle cell disease. The findings are drawn from 18 focus group discussio…
Predicting adherence to postdischarge malaria chemoprevention in Malawian pre-school children
Chemoprevention with antimalarials is a key strategy for malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa. Three months of postdischarge malaria chemoprevention (PDMC) reduces malaria-related mortality and morbidity in pre-school children recently discharged from hospital following recovery from severe anemia. Research on adherence to preventive antimalarials in children is scarce. We aimed to investigate the predictors for caregivers’ adherence to three co…
Visiting crowded places during the Covid-19 pandemic. A panel study among adult Norwegians
Non-pharmaceutical interventions, including promotion of social distancing, have been applied extensively in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding cognitive and psychological factors regulating precautionary behavior is important for future management. The present study examines the importance of selected factors as predictors of having visited or intended to visit crowded places. Six online questionnaire-based waves of data collection we…
The cost-effectiveness of using results-based financing to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in Malawi
INTRODUCTION: Results-based financing (RBF) is being promoted to increase coverage and quality of maternal and perinatal healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of RBF is limited. We assessed the cost-effectiveness within the context of an RBF intervention, including performance-based financing and conditional cash transfers, in rural Malawi. METHODS: We used a decision tree model to estimate expected …
Is cycle network expansion cost-effective? A health economic evaluation of cycling in Oslo
The results support the use of CIM as part of a public health program to improve physical activity and consequently avert morbidity and mortality. CIM is affordable and has a long-term effect on physical activity that in turn has a positive impact on health improvement
Who benefits from increased service utilisation? Examining the distributional effects of payment for performance in Tanzania
P4P can enhance equitable healthcare access and use especially when the demand-side barriers to access care such as user fees associated with drug purchase due to stock-outs have been reduced
Does payment for performance increase performance inequalities across health providers? A case study of Tanzania
The impact of payment-for-performance (P4P) schemes in the health sector has been documented, but there has been little attention to the distributional effects of P4P across health facilities. We examined the distribution of P4P payouts over time and assessed whether increased service coverage due to P4P differed across facilities in Tanzania. We used two service outcomes that improved due to P4P [facility-based deliveries and provision of antima…
Does Free Public Health Care Increase Utilization and Reduce Spending? Heterogeneity and Long-Term Effects
Zambia removed user fees in publicly supported-government and faith based- health facilities in 54 out of 72 districts in 2006. This was extended to rural areas of previously unaffected districts in 2007. The natural experiment provided by the step-wise implementation of the removal policy and five waves of nationally representative household survey data enables us to study the impact of the removal policy on utilization and household health expe…
Equity impact analysis of medical approaches to cardiovascular diseases prevention in Tanzania
Primary medical prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has received low priority in Tanzania, despite evidence of the rising prevalence of CVD risk factors. Different guidelines have been proposed for medical CVD prevention, including the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which recommend medical prevention for all individuals based on the consideration of single CVD risk thresholds. A thi…
Economic cost of primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in Tanzania
Tanzania is facing a double burden of disease, with non-communicable diseases being an increasingly important contributor. Evidence-based preventive measures are important to limit the growing financial burden. This article aims to estimate the cost of providing medical primary prevention interventions for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among at-risk patients, reflecting actual resource use and if the World Health Organization (WHO)'s CVD medical p…
Explaining household socio-economic related child health inequalities using multiple methods in three diverse settings in South Africa
This study provides evidence that socio-economic inequalities are highly prevalent within the relatively poor black population. Poor socio-economic position exposes infants to ill health. In addition, the use of immunisation services was lower in the poor households. These inequalities need to be explicitly addressed in future programme planning to improve child health for all South Africans
Incorporating concerns for equal lifetime health in evaluations of public health programs
Estimation of private and social time preferences for health in northern Tanzania
Does Free Public Health Care Increase Utilization and Reduce Spending? Heterogeneity and Long-Term Effects
Zambia removed user fees in publicly supported-government and faith based- health facilities in 54 out of 72 districts in 2006. This was extended to rural areas of previously unaffected districts in 2007. The natural experiment provided by the step-wise implementation of the removal policy and five waves of nationally representative household survey data enables us to study the impact of the removal policy on utilization and household health expe…
Does payment for performance increase performance inequalities across health providers? A case study of Tanzania
The impact of payment-for-performance (P4P) schemes in the health sector has been documented, but there has been little attention to the distributional effects of P4P across health facilities. We examined the distribution of P4P payouts over time and assessed whether increased service coverage due to P4P differed across facilities in Tanzania. We used two service outcomes that improved due to P4P [facility-based deliveries and provision of antima…
Equity impact analysis of medical approaches to cardiovascular diseases prevention in Tanzania
Primary medical prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has received low priority in Tanzania, despite evidence of the rising prevalence of CVD risk factors. Different guidelines have been proposed for medical CVD prevention, including the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which recommend medical prevention for all individuals based on the consideration of single CVD risk thresholds. A thi…
Estimation of private and social time preferences for health in northern Tanzania
Whatever is bad goes back to the woman
Mothers are commonly blamed for the ill-health of their children, and this is well documented in research. However, few studies have considered gendered patterns of blame for hereditary conditions caused by mutations from both parents through dual, shared genetic inheritance. This paper explores the 'gendering' of blame in the context of an inherited blood disorder known as sickle cell disease. The findings are drawn from 18 focus group discussio…
Incorporating concerns for equal lifetime health in evaluations of public health programs
Estimation of private and social time preferences for health in northern Tanzania
Explaining household socio-economic related child health inequalities using multiple methods in three diverse settings in South Africa
This study provides evidence that socio-economic inequalities are highly prevalent within the relatively poor black population. Poor socio-economic position exposes infants to ill health. In addition, the use of immunisation services was lower in the poor households. These inequalities need to be explicitly addressed in future programme planning to improve child health for all South Africans
Incorporating concerns for equal lifetime health in evaluations of public health programs
Economic cost of primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in Tanzania
Tanzania is facing a double burden of disease, with non-communicable diseases being an increasingly important contributor. Evidence-based preventive measures are important to limit the growing financial burden. This article aims to estimate the cost of providing medical primary prevention interventions for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among at-risk patients, reflecting actual resource use and if the World Health Organization (WHO)'s CVD medical p…
Equity impact analysis of medical approaches to cardiovascular diseases prevention in Tanzania
Primary medical prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has received low priority in Tanzania, despite evidence of the rising prevalence of CVD risk factors. Different guidelines have been proposed for medical CVD prevention, including the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which recommend medical prevention for all individuals based on the consideration of single CVD risk thresholds. A thi…
Does Free Public Health Care Increase Utilization and Reduce Spending? Heterogeneity and Long-Term Effects
Zambia removed user fees in publicly supported-government and faith based- health facilities in 54 out of 72 districts in 2006. This was extended to rural areas of previously unaffected districts in 2007. The natural experiment provided by the step-wise implementation of the removal policy and five waves of nationally representative household survey data enables us to study the impact of the removal policy on utilization and household health expe…
Who benefits from increased service utilisation? Examining the distributional effects of payment for performance in Tanzania
P4P can enhance equitable healthcare access and use especially when the demand-side barriers to access care such as user fees associated with drug purchase due to stock-outs have been reduced
Does payment for performance increase performance inequalities across health providers? A case study of Tanzania
The impact of payment-for-performance (P4P) schemes in the health sector has been documented, but there has been little attention to the distributional effects of P4P across health facilities. We examined the distribution of P4P payouts over time and assessed whether increased service coverage due to P4P differed across facilities in Tanzania. We used two service outcomes that improved due to P4P [facility-based deliveries and provision of antima…
The cost-effectiveness of using results-based financing to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in Malawi
INTRODUCTION: Results-based financing (RBF) is being promoted to increase coverage and quality of maternal and perinatal healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of RBF is limited. We assessed the cost-effectiveness within the context of an RBF intervention, including performance-based financing and conditional cash transfers, in rural Malawi. METHODS: We used a decision tree model to estimate expected …
Is cycle network expansion cost-effective? A health economic evaluation of cycling in Oslo
The results support the use of CIM as part of a public health program to improve physical activity and consequently avert morbidity and mortality. CIM is affordable and has a long-term effect on physical activity that in turn has a positive impact on health improvement
Visiting crowded places during the Covid-19 pandemic. A panel study among adult Norwegians
Non-pharmaceutical interventions, including promotion of social distancing, have been applied extensively in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding cognitive and psychological factors regulating precautionary behavior is important for future management. The present study examines the importance of selected factors as predictors of having visited or intended to visit crowded places. Six online questionnaire-based waves of data collection we…
Predicting adherence to postdischarge malaria chemoprevention in Malawian pre-school children
Chemoprevention with antimalarials is a key strategy for malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa. Three months of postdischarge malaria chemoprevention (PDMC) reduces malaria-related mortality and morbidity in pre-school children recently discharged from hospital following recovery from severe anemia. Research on adherence to preventive antimalarials in children is scarce. We aimed to investigate the predictors for caregivers’ adherence to three co…
Comparing the cost-effectiveness of the MPT64-antigen detection test to Xpert MTB/RIF and ZN-microscopy for the diagnosis of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis
Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) poses challenges from patient and health system perspectives. The cost-effectiveness analysis of the Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) test to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis is documented. However, there are no economic evaluations for EPTB. Considering the reported better diagnostic sensitivity of the MPT64 test, this study explored its cost-effectiveness as an alternative diagnostic test. We conducted this economic evalu…
Social contact patterns during the early Covid-19 pandemic in Norway
Social contacts declined significantly in the months following the March 2020 lockdown, aligning with implementation of stringent social distancing measures. These findings contribute valuable empirical information into the social behaviour in Norway during the early pandemic, which can be used to enhance policy-relevant models for addressing future crises when mitigation measures might be implemented
Whatever is bad goes back to the woman
Mothers are commonly blamed for the ill-health of their children, and this is well documented in research. However, few studies have considered gendered patterns of blame for hereditary conditions caused by mutations from both parents through dual, shared genetic inheritance. This paper explores the 'gendering' of blame in the context of an inherited blood disorder known as sickle cell disease. The findings are drawn from 18 focus group discussio…
“I want to help my body”
Patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) are at risk of severe illness and death if infected by malaria, and lifelong prophylaxis is recommended to individuals in malaria endemic regions. Although its efficacy is declining due to parasite resistance, the antimalarial drug Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) is still given to patients with SCA in several countries of sub-Saharan Africa. A clinical trial was performed to compare SP with Dihydroartemisin…
Severe malarial anaemia in childhood is associated with decreased long-term household wealth
Our findings indicate that severe malarial anaemia in childhood, but not other forms of severe malaria, may be associated with decreased household wealth 4 to 20 years later. Controlling malaria in low-resource settings could protect poor households from worse socioeconomic index over time
The economic burden and catastrophic health expenditures among children with sickle cell anaemia on households in malaria-endemic areas
Households with children with SCA incur high expenditures, which are catastrophic for a substantial proportion of them. Malaria episodes, hospitalisation and wealth status significantly increase the economic burden on households. Targeted interventions are needed to alleviate this financial strain, reduce disparities and improve outcomes for vulnerable households. Enhancing access to improved treatment strategies, such as effective malaria preven…
"Can you bury him before he dies?" Sickle cell disease and social sites of suffering in Malawi and Uganda
In health-related research, experience of illness is commonly characterised by its physical signs and symptoms. However, the experience of illness also extends past the patients' bodily aches and ailments to influence, and possibly impair, their social interactions. Despite its relational ramifications, the field of medicine has not awarded enough attention towards social dimensions of suffering nor the ways in which chronic disease may change an…
Medicine (16 works) · Environmental health (11 works) · Economics (9 works) · Global Maternal and Child Health (9 works) · Population (8 works) · Healthcare Systems and Reforms (7 works) · Economic growth (6 works) · Public health (6 works) · Socioeconomics (6 works) · Tanzania (6 works)