Issue In Norway Research Articles

Multi-isotopic composition of brown crab (Cancer pagurus) and seafloor sediment from a mine tailing sea disposal impacted fjord ecosystem

Sea disposal of mine tailings in fjord ecosystems is an important coastal management issue in Norway and occurs at the land-sea interface. Here we studied accumulation of heavy metals in brown crab (Cancer pagurus) and seafloor sediment from Jøssingfjord, Norway during 2018 to evaluate long-term, legacy pollution effects of coastal mine tailing sea disposal activities. Nickel and copper sediment pollution in the mine tailing sea disposal area was classified as moderate and severe, respectively, under Norwegian environmental quality standards, and highlights the persistent hazard and legacy impacts of heavy metals in these impacted fjord ecosystems. Mercury, zinc, and arsenic had stronger affinities to brown crab muscle likely due to the presence of thiols, and availability of metal binding sites. Our multi-isotopic composition data showed that lead isotopes were the most useful source apportionment tool for this fjord. Overall, our study highlights the importance and value of measuring several different heavy metals and multiple isotopic signatures in different crab organs and seafloor sediment to comprehensively evaluate fjord pollution and kinetic uptake dynamics. Brown crabs were suitable eco-indicators of benthic ecosystem heavy metal pollution in a fjord ecosystem still experiencing short- and long-term physical and chemical impacts from coastal mining sea disposal activities.

Anonymizing in digitalized fieldwork: An art‐based blurring approach

The ongoing refinement of internet technology is compelling anthropologists to reconceptualize data acquisition within the digital realm. Conducting ethnography on sensitive topics that involve imagery necessitates the development of innovative anonymization and pseudo‐anonymization methods. This article focuses on two pivotal facets of digital space ethnography: (1) devising strategies to mitigate harm towards participant members of vulnerable communities and (2) ensuring adherence to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) while preserving the privacy of incidental parties on social media platforms. This article demonstrates how artistic blurring is one anonymization technique that may be applied ethically in the digital ethnographic examination of sensitive issues in Norway.

Risk Assessment of Contaminants in Sewage Sludge Applied on Norwegian Soils

Risk Assessment of Contaminants in Sewage Sludge Applied on Norwegian Soils

The Bergen Declaration 2018: Did it drive the Migration Health Agenda forward in Norway?

Abstract The growing body of migrant health research at all levels focuses around disease burden, risk factors/behaviours and on distal factors but research on policy issues remains limited. Internationally published declarations and recommendations to take the migrant health agenda forward address policy issues. However declarations at country are few and not systematically followed up. The Bergen Declaration was endorsed at Norway's' First National Conference on Migration Health (2018) by the multi-disciplinary participants. The declaration reflects the ‘upstream' and ‘downstream' areas addressed and discussed at the conference and includes concrete recommendations for key areas. It was widely disseminated, including high-level policy makers. Prior to the second Migration Health Conference (2020), the progress of the recommendations were reviewed. Since 2018, Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) in Norway from 2015 was updated in 2019 and a Country Assessment as part of the WP7 of Joint Action on Health Equity Europe (JAHEE) was conducted providing the basis to review the recommendations of the Bergen Declaration. In addition, the 2020 Committee conducted a desk review and search to follow up the recommendations. The review revealed that among identified ‘upstream' areas most progress had been made with data collection and research and the least in policy and governance. Among the ‘downstream' areas some progress was observed regarding practise and access to health services. Education and Training had received some attention. The Bergen Declaration reflects the consensus regarding migrant health and recommendations to address these issues in Norway. Monitoring the progress made through data that included policy review revealed progress and gaps. Progress in research, education and practise was evident whereas policy change was not. Policy makers have not paid heed to the Bergen Declaration. Key messages The Bergen Declaration was a useful tool for initiating and monitoring progress in research, education and practice. Declarations do not support advancement of policies and other means are required to push the policies forward.

Innovations in urban integration policies: Immigrant councils as democratic institutions

Cities differ widely in how they integrate migrants, even within the same nation state, and this local dimension in integration policies is understudied. One model that a growing number of cities in both Western Europe and North America have been trying out is setting up immigrant councils and other institutional structures to integrate immigrants. Such representation of immigrant interests in local bodies –has accordingly gained more importance. In this paper, we consider two such local consultative bodies focused on immigrant issues in Norway. Drawing on Smith's concept of ‘democratic innovations’ this paper explores the innovative potential in increasing immigrant's political opportunity structure through such institutions and discusses the democratic potential of such boards. The value of consultative bodies like these as a part of cities integration policy is disputed. Much of this contention has to do with their institutional design, as some may end up being ‘institutional ghettos’, while others become catalysts for enhanced participation. We therefore explore how the local context influences the design and performance of such bodies.

Precariousness in Norway and Sweden: a comparative register-based study of longstanding precarious attachment to the labour market 1996–2015

ABSTRACT Precariousness in working life is a rising concern in Europe, but scant statistical evidence exists as to the prevalence and development of longstanding precarious employment. Using high-quality individual-level population-wide register data across several decades, this study addresses this issue in Norway and Sweden. Longstanding precarious attachment to the labour market was defined as low/marginal work income during eight years, with frequent substantial income drops and/or reliance on income maintenance schemes. In the core working-age population, 15.3 percent in Norway and 20.0 percent in Sweden had this employment attachment during 1996–2003. Women, low educated, and foreign-born were at higher risk. Contrary to expectations, in 2008–2015, longstanding precarious attachment had declined to 12.7 percent in Norway and 14.5 percent in Sweden. Women in particular, but also immigrants, had attained stronger labour market attachment in the latter period. These results could indicate that key welfare state elements such as trade union strength, strong employment protection and active labour market policies have been successful in shielding workers from negative labour market developments. However, certain population categories with particularly high risk of precarious employment, such as young adults and short-term and undocumented immigrants, have not been analysed by this study.

Overcoming barriers to reach for a helping hand: adolescent boys’ experience of visiting the public health nurse for mental health problems

ABSTRACT Mental health problems among adolescents have become a public health issue in Norway. However, few adolescent boys seek help for their mental health problems. This study focus on adolescent boys’ experiences related to visiting the public health nurse for mental health problems. Twelve adolescent boys were interviewed and qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. The theme identified from the data was: overcoming barriers to reach for a helping hand. The theme consisted of four categories: the public health nurse must be accessible; breaking the norm is a prerequisite for the adolescent boys to talk about mental health problems; ensuring that confidentiality is respected; and the public health nurse is a trustworthy person who can open up for new perspectives. The adolescent boys experienced barriers to visiting the public health nurse. When they had crossed these barriers, the visit was experienced as positive.

Beyond consensus: perceptions of risk from petroleum developments in Lofoten, Vesterålen, and Senja, Norway

Abstract The proposed petroleum developments in the Lofoten, Vesterålen, and Senja are a controversial issue in Norway. We ask how insights into legitimacy and risk perception can help to illuminate the disputed policy process for petroleum developments in Lofoten, Vesterålen, and Senja. Our Q-methodology elicits three key narratives that steer the policy process: (i) best practice and knowledge does not permit coexistence, and fishing takes priority; (ii) coexistence is possible with good process where the nation-state manages risk; and (iii) the state and industry cannot facilitate coexistence, science and conservation come first. We argue these narratives reflect divergence in worldview in three key ways: (i) differential perspectives on the priority of local, national, and global scales; (ii) emphasis on the role of knowledge, skill, and rectitude in finding best policy; and (iii) differential concern for fish, the nation-state, and conservation. We argue for a more realistic approach to coexistence in deliberative democracy that does not aim for consensus and win-win outcomes, and assert that disagreement and partial victories and losses is a natural and healthy state of affairs in a democracy.

'Whaling and the Extermination of the Great Whale': Norwegian and British Debate about Whale Stocks in Antarctica, 1913-1939

Abstract This article examines Norwegian and British investigations of the threat of Antarctic whale extinction in the interwar period. At the time, whaling fleets hunted populations of hundreds of thousands of whales into the remnants that exist today. From the perspective of scientists and observers at the time, however, it was less obvious that whale populations declined. The article investigates what experts and the public knew about the health of Antarctic whale stocks. It contributes to existing research about whale science and whaling diplomacy in two ways. First, it documents in more depth when and how a consensus about whale decline emerged. Secondly, it studies not only experts but also public discussion about the issue in the newspapers. It aims to understand the public assessment of whale stocks. The article finds that concern over Antarctic whaling surfaced in expert British circles from around 1913, but that it did not become a serious issue in Norway before the late 1920s. In the mid-1930s, accumulated statistics in conjunction with new methods created a rough consensus among experts that whale stocks had declined. From the late 1920s, there was intense Norwegian public interest in Antarctic whale stocks, which likewise moved to a consensus on decline around the mid-1930s. The media's attention to the whale stock issue, however, often depended on strong personalities and relied on different types of evidence.

Projecting the future smoking prevalence in Norway.

Background : Norway has achieved a noteworthy reduction in smoking prevalence over the past forty years. In 2015, 13% of Norwegians aged 13–74 smoked daily and a further 9% smoked occasionally. One of the objectives of the Norwegian 2013–16 national strategy for tobacco control is to achieve a reduction in the daily smoking prevalence to < 10% by 2016. This paper aims to estimate how long it will take for Norway to achieve the 10% smoking prevalence. Methods : A dynamic forecasting model using smoking prevalence data from national survey data on the prevalence of current, former and never smokers in the Norwegian population from 1985 to 2012 was used to estimate future smoking prevalence in the Norwegian population based on a continuation of current patterns in smoking cessation and initiation rates. Results : The result suggests that Norway’s smoking prevalence among men and women will continue to decline if current trends of smoking initiation and cessation continue. Our model predicts, based on figures for 1985–2012, that the prevalence of current daily and occasional smoking among men and women will not fall below the 10% mark until 2029 for men and 2026 for women, if current trends continue. Conclusion : Smoking is likely to remain an important public health issue in Norway for many years. New strategies are needed to accelerate the decline in smoking in Norway.

How Was Ibsen’s Modern Drama Possible?

One of the major renewals in the history of drama is Henrik Ibsen’s “modern tragedy” of the 1880s and 1890s. Since Ibsen’s own time, this renewal has been seen as an achievement accomplished in spite, rather than because, of Ibsen’s Norwegian and Scandinavian contexts of origin. His origins have consistently been associated with provinciality, backwardness and restrictions to be overcome, and his European “exile” has been seen as the great liberating turning point of his career. We will, on the contrary, argue that throughout his career Ibsen belonged to Scandinavian literature and that his trajectory was fundamentally conditioned and shaped by what happened in the intersection between literature, culture and politics in Scandinavia. In particular, we highlight the continued association and closeness between literature and theatre, the contested language issue in Norway, the superimposition of literary and political cleavages and dynamics as well as the transitory stage of copyright.

The use of dynamic response to evaluate and improve the optimization of existing soft railway catenary systems for higher speeds

An increasing demand for reduced travel times requires the exploitation of the full capacity of existing overhead railway catenary systems. This need has become an issue in Norway, as the majority of existing catenary systems are designed for a maximum speed of 130 km/h. In many regions, plans to reconstruct the railway line do not exist. Therefore, existing catenary sections must be optimized to increase a train’s velocity and reduce the total travel time. In this paper, the dynamic response is evaluated in an optimization investigation of an existing soft catenary system. A dynamic investigation that considers finite element models of existing soft railway catenary sections with original tension forces, current tension forces and suggested new tension forces for velocities at and above the design speed is conducted. The dynamic response is quantified by the interpretation of spectral densities and variations in their peak values. Due to more movement at mid-span than at the pole support, the effects from altering the tension forces and increasing the speed can be more accurately described and estimated by considering the dynamic content of the response at mid-span instead of the peak uplift at the pole support. A 23% increase in speed is possible for the system with the best tested new tension force setting, in which only the dynamic response and uplift at the pole support are considered.

The development of the international initiative on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and its effect on the nuclear weapons debate

AbstractThis article describes the genesis of the humanitarian initiative and the political context in which it has developed in the course of the joint cross-regional statements and the three international conferences on this issue in Norway, Mexico and Austria. It examines the key substantive conclusions that have emerged as a result of this debate and assesses their relevance for the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. It concludes that these facts and findings warrant an urgent reassessment of the so-called security value of nuclear weapons and a nuclear deterrence-based notion of stability and security.

The FACIT‐Sp spiritual well‐being scale: an investigation of the dimensionality, reliability and construct validity in a cognitively intact nursing home population

Spiritual well-being has been found to be a strong individual predictor of overall nursing home satisfaction and a fundamental dimension of global as well as health-related quality-in-life among nursing home patients. Therefore, access to a valid and reliable measure of spiritual well-being among nursing home patients is highly warranted. The aim of this study was to investigate the dimensionality, reliability and construct validity of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Spiritual Wellbeing scale in a cognitively intact nursing home population. A cross-sectional design was applied, selecting two counties in central Norway from which 20 municipalities representing 44 different nursing homes took part in this study. Long-term care was defined as 24-hour care with duration of 6 months or longer. Participants were 202 cognitively intact long-term nursing home patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Approval by all regulatory institutions dealing with research issues in Norway and the Management Unit at the 44 nursing homes was obtained. Explorative and confirmative factor analyses as well as correlation with selected construct were used. Though three items loaded very low (λ = 0.22, 0.26, 0.32) indicating low reliability, the three-factor model for the FACIT-Sp spiritual well-being scale provided an acceptable fit (χ(2) = 101.15 (df = 50), p-value <0.001, RMSEA = 0.075 p = 0.030, NFI = 0.90, GFI = 0.91, AGFI = 0.85) for older nursing home patients, demonstrating acceptable measurement reliability. Construct validity was supported by significant correlations in the hypothesised direction with the selected constructs. The three-factor model is an improvement over the original two-factor construct, based on these nursing home data. The measure yielded significantly factor loadings, good composite reliability and construct validity.

Public sector reform and blame avoidance effects

AbstractBlame avoidance has often been claimed to be an important rationale behind changes in the organisation of the public sector, but very few studies have examined whether and how public attribution of responsibility is actually affected by such reforms. For instance, how do changes in the formal allocation of authority affect public attribution of blame when things go wrong? Is the effect immediate or delayed? To advance our understanding of such questions, this paper presents an analysis of blame and credit attribution in more than 1,200 newspaper articles about health-care-related issues in Norway before and after the major Norwegian hospital reform from 2002. The central empirical finding of the article is that central state-level authorities in Norway were attributed less blame in media coverage of health-care problems after the reform than before the reform. The shift is delayed, but substantial and robust to various modifications in model estimations.

Nurse–patient interaction is a resource for hope, meaning in life and self‐transcendence in nursing home patients

Spiritual dimensions such as hope, meaning in life and self-transcendence have been found to be predictors of successful ageing, life satisfaction and well-being in older individuals. Connectedness and communicating with others have been seen to facilitate hope, meaning in life and self-transcendence among nursing home patients. This study aimed to investigate the associations between hope, meaning in life, self-transcendence and nurse-patient interaction in a nursing home population. A cross-sectional design was employed, collecting data in 44 different Norwegian nursing homes (NHs) from 250 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Approval by all regulatory institutions dealing with research issues in Norway and the Management Unit at the 44 NHs was obtained. A sample of 202 cognitively intact nursing home patients responded to the Herth Hope Index, the Purpose in Life test, the Self-Transcendence Scale and the Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale. A structural equation model (SEM) of the hypothesized relationships between the constructs was tested. The SEM model fit well with the present data. Significant direct relationships of nurse-patient interaction on hope, meaning in life and self-transcendence were displayed. Meaning and the interconnectedness dimension of hope appeared to be particularly dynamic resources, revealing significant influences on all the constructs in the SEM model tested. Nurse-patient interaction influences hope, meaning in life and self-transcendence in cognitively intact nursing home patients and might be an important resource in relation to patients' health and global well-being. Thus, care providers are above all fundamental for nursing home patients. Advancing caregivers' interacting and communicating skills might facilitate patients' health and global well-being and inspire professional caregivers as they perform their daily care practices. More research of the effectiveness of such strategies is greatly needed. The SEM model tested comprised 20 variables, indicating a desirable sample size of n = 200, while the present effective sample was n = 187. Also, cross-sectional data do not allow making conclusion on the causality.

SETTING THE AGENDA ON ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS IN NORWAY

This paper contributes to the understanding of the developing relationships between non-governmental organisations (NGOs), journalists and environmental issues in general, and climate change in particular. It follows 17 Norwegian NGOs over a period of 10 years, evaluating their ability to set the agenda for public debate on environmental issues in Norway, about the types of organisations that have succeeded in setting the agenda in Norwegian print media over the last 10 years. What role does the emergence of climate change as a dominating global environmental issue play in the agenda-setting capacity of Norwegian NGOs? The results do not support earlier findings that highlight an increasing media focus on sensation and identification and a lack of depth and quality. By contrast, the “winners” found in this investigation are generally those organisations that focus on producing knowledge, and not those that focus on supposedly media-friendly activism. The results also stand in contrast to existing literature on the “success” of Greenpeace. Greenpeace and similar organisations found it hard to compete for media attention as the media interest turned from pollution, roads, dams and local issues to the very complex matter of global climate change. These findings are, finally, used to reflect on how journalists employ journalistic norms.

Health inequalities and the welfare state

This issue of the Norwegian Journal of Epidemiology is based on the research conference Health Inequalities and the Welfare State at the Soria Moria Conference Center in Oslo, Norway, October 10-11 2006. The main purpose of the conference was to support, stimulate, disseminate and contribute to research in Norway on social inequalities in health. Nine papers are included in this issue, in addition to this introduction. One paper is based on one of the keynote lectures, while the other eight papers demonstrate some of the themes and approaches in current Norwegian research on socioeconomic health inequalities. Most of the articles have been authored by researchers who are working on a doctoral thesis or have recently attained their doctoral degree. The papers cluster into four groups. One cluster has a common denominator in intervention and policies to reduce health inequalities. A second focuses on marginalised groups, whereas a third cluster draws attention to the possible impact of the social context on individual health. The last paper addresses health inequalities among adolescents. The main focus of the Soria Moria conference was how and why social health inequalities continue to exist in the Norwegian society with a long tradition of a social democratic welfare model. We are pleased to note that health inequalities are becoming a prioritised health policy issue in Norway, and hope this issue of the Norwegian Journal of Epidemiology will contribute to a sharper focus on monitoring of, research on, and interventions to reduce social inequalities in health.

A Mirror Image of Sigmund Skard? Paul Knaplund and the Role of the Historian between European and American Cultures

1. IntroductionPaul Knaplund (1885-1962), long -time Professor of History and Chair at the University of Wisconsin, was one of the great and famous scholars of the British Empire. Yet, a significant amount of his time and energy as a scholar was devoted to historical issues in Norway and to Scandinavian immigrant culture in the US Midwest. This article consider’s Knaplund’s Norwegian background and his role as cultural intermediary between Norway and the United States. Knaplund was not alone ...

Norway's experience of carbon dioxide storage: a basis for pursuing international commitments?

Does the Norwegian political landscape indicate advocacy of binding international carbon storage commitments in the foreseeable future? Norway's unique geology has understandably prompted a particular interest in the subject. This article analyses the interests and relative influence of the key domestic actors (the oil industry, environmental organizations, political parties and government bureaucracy) who wield influence in policy-making processes concerning carbon dioxide storage. Despite the level of interest aroused by the issue in Norway, the evidence suggests that policy will not move in the direction of an international carbon storage agreement. This is mainly because Norwegian policy-making in the field is dominated by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, whose current interests do not seem compatible with such a position. The fact that carbon storage can be developed in accordance with Norway's interests as a petroleum producer may, however, be a decisive factor for the political parties, government bureaucracy and the oil industry in the future.