Equity in Social Welfare and Global Development Research Group (WelDev)
The research group WelDev engages research related to social welfare and global development.
About the research group
This interdisciplinary research group, established in 2022, is situated in the Department of Health Promotion and Development and engages research related to social welfare and global development. The research topics in the group’s project portfolio are varied, yet united by a core interest in questions of equity, social justice and empowerment.
Our theoretical interests are founded on critical perspectives within health promotion, childhood studies, social work, psychology, social anthropology and gender studies. We value epistemological diversity and employ a range of methodological approaches; we have particular expertise in qualitative methods.
Competencies and background
We have competencies in the following research areas:
- Health and Welfare Services
- Migration
- Gender, Diversity, inclusion and belonging
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights
- Global partnerships
Our members teach in three Master's Programmes
Projects
Active projects
Research projects
Youth and the future in times of crisis; gendered life visions and vulnerabilities (2014-)
Food and food work in times of crises: The case of rural South Bohemia
PhD projects
Maternal health among women with refugee backgrounds: Healthcare services during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period in Norway (2022-2026) PhD candidate: Hilde Sjøbø Asbjørnsen
Experiences of adult children of alcoholics and adult orphaned children of alcoholic caregivers in Botswana: resilience or resemblance (2020-2025) PhD candidate: Refilwe Precious Jeremiah
Completed projects
Research projects
PhD projects
Embracing both sides of the same coin: Work-related psychosocial risks and resources among child welfare workers (2017-2022) PhD candidate: Oyeniyi Samuel Olaniyan
Transforming gender relations? Male involvement in maternal and infant health care in Ghana (2016-2022) PhD candidate: Gloria Ampim
Navigating Prolonged Conflict: Subject positions and meaning constructions in postdivorce families (2016-2022) PhD candidate: Jan Stokkebekk
Publications
Articles
Asbjornsen, H.S., Ottemöller, F.G. & Vik, E.S. (2025). ‘I was ‘only’ seen as a birthing woman:’ the pregnancy, birth and postpartum experiences of women with refugee backgrounds in Norway. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 25, 507. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07624-x
Ege, G., Ottemöller, F.P.G. & Frisk, B. (2023). Norwegian music students’ perceptions and experiences of challenges and resources for health. Front. Psychol. 14:1199423. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1199423
Ampim, G. A., Haukanes, H., Blystad, A., & Kpoor, A. (2022). ‘I Do Not Want Her to be Doing Anything Stressful’: Men’s Involvement in Domestic Work During Pregnancy in Ghana. Progress in Development Studies, 22(4), 319-334. https://doi.org/10.1177/14649934221103913 (Original work published 2022)
Ranjitkar, P., & Haukanes, H. (2022). Participation in Climate Change Adaptation Programs in Nepal: An Intersectional Study. Forum for Development Studies, 49(2), 155–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039410.2022.2069594
Books
Mittelmark, M.B., Bauer, G.F., Vaandrager L., Pelikan, J.M., Sagy, S., Eriksson M., Lindström, B., Magistretti C.M. (2022). The Handbook og Salutogenesis (2.ed.). Springer Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79515-3
People
Group manager
Fungisai Gwanzura Ottemöller Research group leader
Group members
Haldis Haukanes Professor
Marguerite Daniel Professor
Siri Lange Professor
Hilde Sjøbø Asbjørnsen PhD Candidate
Ørjan Skaga Assistant Professor