Overview
Background
A/Prof Steve Bell is a senior social scientist at the Burnet Institute and has 22 years’ experience across South-East Asia (India, Nepal), Africa (Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe) and Western Pacific (Australia, Indonesia, PNG, Fiji) Regions. He works respectfully with not-for-profits, public institutions, businesses and community organisations, using innovative, inclusive, people-centred approaches to identify sustainable solutions to critical health challenges and accelerate health equity.
Steve’s work brings together lived experience, socio-ecological systems thinking and social theory to understand what works (or not) in global health and social development. He has researched and published widely on HIV, sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, neglected tropical diseases, TB and Indigenous health. He is particularly interested in understanding the socio-structural determinants of health and social inequities, and injustices associated with marginalisation due to gender, sexuality, age and geography. He has also published two books on interpretive and community-led approaches in research, design, monitoring and evaluation: ‘Peer research in health and social development: international perspectives on participatory research’ (2021), and ‘Monitoring and evaluation in health and social development: interpretive and ethnographic perspectives’ (2016). He is currently taking on new PhD students in these areas, so please do reach out to him at the Burnet Institute for a chat!
He holds associate professorial appointments at UNSW Sydney and The University of Queensland, is a Member of the International Editorial Board at Culture, Health & Sexuality, has been a Senior Advisor to the Boston Consulting Group, and has worked in research and consultancy roles with international governments, NGOs, UNAIDS, UNFPA and WHO.
Availability
- Associate Professor Steve Bell is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Human Geography, University of Leeds
- Masters (Coursework) of Sustainable Development, unknown
- Doctor of Philosophy of Social Science (Health Practice), Royal Holloway University of London
Research interests
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Socio-structural determinants of health and wellbeing
Critical qualitative enquiry; lived experiences research; operation of determinants of health; production of health inequities
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Community action, activism and resistance for social justice and health equity
Community-based participatory research; working with community researchers; understanding operations of power; social change; role of community organisations and collectives; theorising agency
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Sexual, reproductive and maternal health of young people
Youth-led co-design of services, programs and policies; qualitative research design; health and social risks; agency and action; sex-positive and rights-based approaches
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Community-based HIV research with key populations
Individual and collective agency; forms of solidarity and action; concepts of agency, vulnerability and social practice; community-led innovation in HIV testing, treatment and care
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Innovation in qualitative, participatory and ethnographic research
Community-led research; working with community researchers; longitudinal research design; photovoice; peer research; participatory video
Works
Search Professor Steve Bell’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Local pathways of “serodiscordant couples”: unpacking a global HIV population category in Papua New Guinea
Persson, Asha, Mek, Agnes, Naketrumb, Richard, Mitchell, Elke, Bell, Stephen and Kelly-Hanku, Angela (2024). Local pathways of “serodiscordant couples”: unpacking a global HIV population category in Papua New Guinea. Medical Anthropology, 43 (1), 31-45. doi: 10.1080/01459740.2023.2282976
2023
Journal Article
Yarning as a method for building sexual wellbeing among urban Aboriginal young people in Australia
Bryant, Joanne, Bolt, Reuben, Martin, Kacey, Beadman, Mitchell, Doyle, Michael, Treloar, Carla, Bell, Stephen, Murphy, Dean, Newman, Christy, Browne, Annette, Aggleton, Peter, Beetson, Karen, Brooks, Megan, Wilms, Jessica, Leece, Bronwyn, Stanbury, Linda, Botfield, Jessica, Davis, Ben and Graham, Simon (2023). Yarning as a method for building sexual wellbeing among urban Aboriginal young people in Australia. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 26 (7), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2023.2258948
2023
Journal Article
Aboriginal young people’s perspectives and experiences of accessing sexual health services and sex education in Australia: A qualitative study
Graham, Simon, Martin, Kacey, Gardner, Kristy, Beadman, Mitchell, Doyle, Michael F., Bolt, Reuben, Murphy, Dean, Newman, Christy E., Bell, Stephen, Treloar, Carla, Browne, Annette J., Aggleton, Peter, Beetson, Karen, Brooks, Megan, Botfield, Jessica R., Davis, Ben, Wilms, Jessica, Leece, Bronwyn, Stanbury, Linda and Bryant, Joanne (2023). Aboriginal young people’s perspectives and experiences of accessing sexual health services and sex education in Australia: A qualitative study. Global Public Health, 18 (1) 2196561, 1-15. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2023.2196561
2023
Book Chapter
Socio-structural influences on young men's experiences of sex, pregnancy and pregnancy prevention in Papua New Guinea
Aeno, Herick, Mitchell, Elke, Ase, Sophie, Trumb, Richard Nake, Ofi, Priscilla Selon, Kelly-Hanku, Angela and Bell, Stephen (2023). Socio-structural influences on young men's experiences of sex, pregnancy and pregnancy prevention in Papua New Guinea. Sex and gender in the Pacific. (pp. 109-122) edited by Angela Kelly-Hanku, Peter Aggleton and Anne Malcolm. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003142072-11
2023
Journal Article
Beyond patient delay, navigating structural health system barriers to timely care and treatment in a high burden TB setting in Papua New Guinea
Jops, Paula, Cowan, John, Kupul, Martha, Trumb, Richard Nake, Graham, Stephen M., Bauri, Mathias, Nindil, Herolyn, Bell, Stephen, Keam, Tess, Majumdar, Suman, Pomat, William, Marais, Ben, Marks, Guy B., Kaldor, John, Vallely, Andrew and Kelly-Hanku, Angela (2023). Beyond patient delay, navigating structural health system barriers to timely care and treatment in a high burden TB setting in Papua New Guinea. Global Public Health, 18 (1) 2184482, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2023.2184482
2022
Journal Article
Exploring tuberculosis riskscapes in a Papua New Guinean ‘hotspot’
Jops, Paula, Kupul, Martha, Trumb, Richard Nake, Cowan, John, Graham, Stephen M., Bell, Stephen, Majumdar, Suman, Nindil, Herolyn, Pomat, William, Marais, Ben, Marks, Guy, Vallely, Andrew J., Kaldor, John and Kelly-Hanku, Angela (2022). Exploring tuberculosis riskscapes in a Papua New Guinean ‘hotspot’. Qualitative Health Research, 32 (11), 1747-1762. doi: 10.1177/10497323221111912
2022
Journal Article
“We live just like a normal family”: exploring local renderings of the global HIV normalisation discourse among serodiscordant couples in Papua New Guinea
Persson, Asha, Kelly-Hanku, Angela, Mek, Agnes, Mitchell, Elke, Trumb, Richard Nake, Worth, Heather and Bell, Stephen (2022). “We live just like a normal family”: exploring local renderings of the global HIV normalisation discourse among serodiscordant couples in Papua New Guinea. Sexuality and Culture, 27 (1), 19-37. doi: 10.1007/s12119-022-10001-x
2022
Journal Article
Aboriginal peoples' perspectives about COVID-19 vaccines and motivations to seek vaccination: a qualitative study
Graham, Simon, Blaxland, Megan, Bolt, Reuben, Beadman, Mitchell, Gardner, Kristy, Martin, Kacey, Doyle, Michael, Beetson, Karen, Murphy, Dean, Bell, Stephen, Newman, Christy E and Bryant, Joanne (2022). Aboriginal peoples' perspectives about COVID-19 vaccines and motivations to seek vaccination: a qualitative study. BMJ Global Health, 7 (7) e008815, 1-8. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-008815
2022
Journal Article
Community perceptions and acceptability of mass drug administration for the control of neglected tropical diseases in Asia-Pacific countries: A systematic scoping review of qualitative research
Mitchell, Elke, Kelly-Hanku, Angela, Krentel, Alison, Romani, Lucia, Robinson, Leanne J., Vaz Nery, Susana, Kaldor, John, Steer, Andrew C. and Bell, Stephen (2022). Community perceptions and acceptability of mass drug administration for the control of neglected tropical diseases in Asia-Pacific countries: A systematic scoping review of qualitative research. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16 (3) e0010215, e0010215. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010215
2021
Journal Article
Social influences on engagement with HIV testing, treatment and care services among men who have sex with men living in rural Uganda
Nakiganda, Lydia J., Bavinton, Benjamin R., Grulich, Andrew E., Serwadda, David, Nakubulwa, Rosette, Poynten, Isobel M. and Bell, Stephen (2021). Social influences on engagement with HIV testing, treatment and care services among men who have sex with men living in rural Uganda. Qualitative Health Research, 32 (4), 104973232110581-645. doi: 10.1177/10497323211058162
2021
Other Outputs
Rapid qualitative assessment of COVID-19 health needs in urban Sydney Aboriginal communities: Method and data report Site 2
Blaxland, M., Bryant, J., Gardner, K., Beadman, M., Bolt, R., Doyle, M., Graham, S., Newman, C.E., Murphy, D., Bell, S., Beetson, K., Wilms, J. and Penning, K. (2021). Rapid qualitative assessment of COVID-19 health needs in urban Sydney Aboriginal communities: Method and data report Site 2. Sydney, NSW, Australia: CSRH, UNSW.
2021
Journal Article
Making sense of serodiscordance: pathways and aftermaths of HIV testing among couples with mixed HIV status in Papua New Guinea
Persson, Asha, Kelly-Hanku, Angela, Mek, Agnes, Mitchell, Elke, Nake Trumb, Richard, Worth, Heather and Bell, Stephen (2021). Making sense of serodiscordance: pathways and aftermaths of HIV testing among couples with mixed HIV status in Papua New Guinea. The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology, 22 (4), 1-17. doi: 10.1080/14442213.2021.1942184
2021
Journal Article
Understanding and managing HIV infection risk among men who have sex with men in rural Uganda: a qualitative study
Nakiganda, Lydia Jacenta, Bell, Stephen, Grulich, Andrew E., Serwadda, David, Nakubulwa, Rosette, Poynten, Isobel Mary and Bavinton, Benjamin R. (2021). Understanding and managing HIV infection risk among men who have sex with men in rural Uganda: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 21 (1) 1309, 1309. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11365-9
2021
Journal Article
Beyond deficit: ‘strengths‐based approaches’ in Indigenous health research
Bryant, Joanne, Bolt, Reuben, Botfield, Jessica R., Martin, Kacey, Doyle, Michael, Murphy, Dean, Graham, Simon, Newman, Christy E., Bell, Stephen, Treloar, Carla, Browne, Annette J. and Aggleton, Peter (2021). Beyond deficit: ‘strengths‐based approaches’ in Indigenous health research. Sociology of Health & Illness, 43 (6) 1467-9566.13311, 1405-1421. doi: 10.1111/1467-9566.13311
2021
Journal Article
Meet the editors
Bell, Stephen, Newman, Christy and Yang, Ligang (2021). Meet the editors. Sexual Health, 18 (2), I-II. doi: 10.1071/SHv18n2_MeetED
2021
Other Outputs
Rapid qualitative assessment of COVID-19 health needs in urban Sydney Aboriginal communities: report 2
Blaxland, M., Bryant, J., Gardner, K., Beadman, M., Bolt, R., Doyle, M., Graham, S., Newman, C.E., Murphy, D., Bell, S., Beetson, K. and Wilms, J. (2021). Rapid qualitative assessment of COVID-19 health needs in urban Sydney Aboriginal communities: report 2. Sydney, NSW, Australia: CSRH, UNSW. doi: 10.26190/rgbz-5575
2021
Other Outputs
Rapid qualitative assessment of COVID-19 health needs in urban Sydney Aboriginal communities: Method and data report Site 1
Blaxland, M., Bryant, J., Gardner, K., Beadman, M., Bolt, R., Doyle, M., Graham, S., Newman, C.E., Murphy, D., Bell, S., Beetson, K., Wilms, J. and Penning, K. (2021). Rapid qualitative assessment of COVID-19 health needs in urban Sydney Aboriginal communities: Method and data report Site 1. Sydney, NSW, Australia: CSRH, UNSW.
2021
Book
Peer research in health and social development: international perspectives on participatory research
Stephen Bell, Peter Aggleton and Ally Gibson eds. (2021). Peer research in health and social development: international perspectives on participatory research. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429316920
2021
Book Chapter
Peer research in health and social development: Understandings, strengths and limitations
Bell, Stephen, Aggleton, Peter and Gibson, Ally (2021). Peer research in health and social development: Understandings, strengths and limitations. Peer research in health and social development: international perspectives on participatory research. (pp. 3-19) edited by Stephen Bell, Peter Aggleton and Ally Gibson. Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429316920-2
2021
Journal Article
Corrigendum to: A strengths-based analysis of social influences that enhance HIV testing among female sex workers in urban Indonesia
Whitford, Kate, Mitchell, Elke, Lazuardi, Elan, Rowe, Emily, Tasya, Irma Anintya, Wirawan, Dewa N, Wisaksana, Rudi, Subronto, Yanri W, Prameswari, Hellen D, Kaldor, John M and Bell, Stephen (2021). Corrigendum to: A strengths-based analysis of social influences that enhance HIV testing among female sex workers in urban Indonesia. Sexual Health, 18 (1), 122-122. doi: 10.1071/sh20085_co
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Steve Bell is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Young people and global health across Asia and the Pacific
Steve’s work brings together lived experience, socio-ecological systems thinking and social theory to understand what works (or not) in global health and social development. He has researched and published widely on HIV, sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, neglected tropical diseases, TB and Indigenous health. He is particularly interested in understanding the socio-structural determinants of health and social inequities, and injustices associated with marginalisation due to gender, sexuality, age and geography. He has also published two books on interpretive and community-led approaches in research, design, monitoring and evaluation: ‘Peer research in health and social development: international perspectives on participatory research’ (2021), and ‘Monitoring and evaluation in health and social development: interpretive and ethnographic perspectives’ (2016). He is currently taking on new PhD students in these areas, with particular interest examining young people's experiences of global health across Asia and the Pacific. Please reach out for a chat if you're interested in any of the following topics:
- Solutions-oriented approaches, led by young people – as researchers, advocates, health experts and agents of change – that will enable a step-change in youth-centred health care
- Understanding and tackling the broad array of socio-structural determinants of health and wellbeing
- Design, implementation and evaluation of adolescent-responsive health services
- Innovation in community-located, community-led models of health care and support, including self-care approaches
- Understanding the impacts of climate on young people’s health and health service provision, and young people’s work to adapt to or mitigate the effects of climate change on their lives, families and communities
Media
Enquiries
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