Dr Hannah Fairbrother

PhD, MA Cantab, PgDipHE, BMedSci, SFHEA

School of Allied Health, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery

Senior Lecturer in Public Health

Dr Hannah Fairbrother, Senior Lecturer in Public Health
Profile picture of Dr Hannah Fairbrother, Senior Lecturer in Public Health
h.fairbrother@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2044
Room 104, 362 Mushroom Lane

Full contact details

Dr Hannah Fairbrother
School of Allied Health, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery
Room 104
362 Mushroom Lane
Sheffield
S10 2TS
Research interests

I lead a programme of research into socioeconomically patterned health inequalities, particularly in relation to children, young people and families. This is a longstanding interest and stems from growing up in Sheffield, a city of contrasts in health and wealth, visiting family in Liverpool and through voluntary work with young mothers in Cambridge and with children in an underserved area of Paris.

My work focuses on understanding:

  • systemic disadvantage and the social, economic and political factors shaping health
  • the impact of policies on public health and inequalities
  • public perspectives on inequality and pro-equity policies and
  • the role of activism in advancing social justice

I am a qualitative researcher with expertise in participatory research methods, critical policy analysis, systematic and narrative literature review.

Recent funded projects have explored the impact of benefit changes on child health; families’ experiences of housing insecurity and young people’s perspectives on health inequalities and their drivers.

Publications

Journal articles

  • Oxenham AF, Braune T, van Sluijs E, Fairbrother H, Martin A & Winpenny EM (2025) . International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 22.
  • Alliott O, Fairbrother H & van Sluijs E (2024) . BMC Public Health, 24.
  • Dodd-Reynolds C, Hall S, Crowder M, Goodyear V, Griffin N, Fairbrother H, Pope S & Scott S (2024) . European Journal of Public Health, 34(Supplement_2).
  • Hock ES, Blank L, Fairbrother H, Clowes M, Cuevas DC, Booth A, Clair A & Goyder E (2024) . BMC Public Health, 24.
  • Er V, Crowder M, Holding E, Woodrow N, Griffin N, Summerbell C, Egan M & Fairbrother H (2024) . Health Promotion International, 39(4).
  • Fairbrother H, Woodrow N, Holding E, Crowder M, Griffin N, Er V, Dodd-Reynolds C, Egan M, Scott S, Summerbell C , Rigby E et al (2024) . BMC Public Health, 24(1).
  • Stevely AK, Gray LA, Fairbrother H, Fenton L, Henney M, Kersbergen I & Holmes J (2024) . PLoS ONE, 19(6).
  • Dodd-Reynolds C, Griffin N, Kyle P, Scott S, Fairbrother H, Holding E, Crowder M, Woodrow N & Summerbell C (2024) . BMC Public Health, 24(1).
  • Porter A, d’Apice K, Albers P, Woodrow N, Fairbrother H, Breheny K, Mills C, Tebbett S & De Vocht F (2024) . PLOS ONE, 19(1).
  • Fenton L, Fairbrother H, Whitaker V, Henney M, Stevely AK & Holmes J (2024) . Drug and Alcohol Review, 43(3), 675-684.
  • Hock E, Blank L, Fairbrother H, Clowes M, Cuevas DC, Booth A & Goyder E (2023) . Public Health Research, 11(13).
  • Stevely AK, Gray LA, Fairbrother H, Fenton L, Henney M & Holmes J (2023) . Preventive Medicine Reports, 36.
  • Hatch LM, Widnall EC, Albers PN, Hopkins GL, Kidger J, de Vocht F, Kaner E, van Sluijs EMF, Fairbrother H, Jago R & Campbell RM (2023) . BMC Medical Research Methodology, 23(1).
  • Busebaia TJA, Thompson J, Fairbrother H & Ali P (2023) . Journal of Advanced Nursing.
  • Widnall E, Albers PN, Hatch L, Hopkins G, Kidger J, Vocht FD, Kaner E, Sluijs EMFV, Fairbrother H, Jago R & Campbell R (2023) . Health and Place, 82.
  • Widnall E, Hatch L, Albers PN, Hopkins G, Kidger J, de Vocht F, Kaner E, van Sluijs EMF, Fairbrother H, Jago R & Campbell R (2023) . BMC Public Health, 23.
  • Griffin N, Crowder M, Kyle P, Holding E, Woodrow N, H F, Dodd-Reynolds C, Summerbell C & Scott S (2023) . SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 3.
  • Fenton L, Fairbrother H, Whitaker V, Henney M, Stevely A & Holmes J (2023) . Journal of Youth Studies, 27(7), 1006-1022.
  • Alliott O, Fairbrother H, Corder K, Wilkinson P & van Sluijs E (2023) . BMJ Open, 13(3).
  • Whitaker V, Curtis P, Fairbrother H, Oldham M & Holmes J (2023) . BMC Public Health, 23.
  • Caluzzi G, Fenton L, Holmes J, MacLean S, Pennay A, Fairbrother H & Törrönen J (2023) . New Media & Society.
  • Holding E, Crowder M, Woodrow N, Griffin N, Knights N, Goyder E, McKeown R & Fairbrother H (2022) . Health and Social Care in the Community, 30, e6366-e6375.
  • Sharp CA, Widnall E, Albers PN, Willis K, Capner C, Kidger J, de Vocht F, Kaner E, van Sluijs EMF, Fairbrother H , Jago R et al (2022) . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20).
  • Pennay A, Törrönen J, Herold MD, Fenton L, MacLean S, Caluzzi G, Fairbrother H, Frank VA, Samuelsson E & Holmes J (2022) . International Journal of Drug Policy, 108.
  • Griffin N, Wistow J, Fairbrother H, Holding E, Sirisena M, Powell K & Summerbell C (2022) . BMC Public Health, 22.
  • Woodrow N, Fairbrother H, D’Apice K, Breheny K, Albers P, Mills C, Tebbett S, Campbell R & De Vocht F (2022) . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7).
  • Stevely A, Vashishtha R, Fairbrother H, Fenton L, Henney M, Livingston M & Holmes J (2022) . European Journal of Public Health, 32(3), 354-359.
  • Fairbrother H, Woodrow N, Crowder M, Holding E, Griffin N, Er V, Dodd-Reynolds C, Egan M, Lock K, Scott S , Summerbell C et al (2022) . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3679-3679.
  • Woodrow N, Fairbrother H, Breheny K, d’Apice K, Albers PN, Mills C, Curtis M, Hopkins L, Tebbett S, Campbell R & De Vocht F (2022) . BMC Public Health, 22.
  • Holmes J, Fairbrother H, Livingston M, Meier PS, Oldham M, Pennay A & Whitaker V (2022) . International Journal of Drug Policy, 102.
  • Alliott O, Ryan M, Fairbrother H & van Sluijs E (2022) . Obesity Reviews, 23(3).
  • Woodrow N, Fairbrother H, Crowder M, Goyder E, Griffin N, Holding E & Quirk H (2022) . Qualitative Research Journal, 22(2), 197-208.
  • Griffin N, Philips S, Hillier-Brown F, Fairbrother H, Wistow J, Holding E, Powell K & Summerbell C (2021) . BMC Public Health, 21.
  • Holding E, Fairbrother H, Griffin N, Wistow J, Powell K & Summerbell C (2021) . BMC Public Health, 21(1).
  • Jessiman PE, Powell K, Williams P, Fairbrother H, Crowder M, Williams JG & Kipping R (2021) . PLoS One, 16(2), e0245577.
  • Whitaker V, Oldham M, Boyd J, Fairbrother H, Curtis P, Meier P & Holmes J (2021) . BMC Public Health, 21(1).
  • Oldham M, Livingston M, Whitaker V, Callinan S, Fairbrother H, Curtis P, Meier P & Holmes J (2021) . Drug and Alcohol Review, 40(4), 597-606.
  • Thompson J, Fairbrother H, Spencer G, Curtis P, Fouche C, Hoare K, Hogan D, O’Riordan J, Salami B, Smith M , Taylor B et al (2020) . Global Health Promotion, 27(4), 141-144.
  • Whitaker V, Oldham M, Angus C, Fairbrother H & Holmes J (2020) . Addiction, 115(11), 1987-1988.
  • Fairbrother H, Curtis P & Kirkcaldy A (2020) . Health Education Journal, 79(6), 686-699.
  • Spencer G, Fairbrother H & Thompson J (2020) . International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19.
  • Smith J, Ali P, Birks Y, Curtis P, Fairbrother H, Kirk S, Saltiel D, Thompson J & Swallow V (2020) . Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(8), 1911-1923.
  • Oldham M, Callinan S, Whitaker V, Fairbrother H, Curtis P, Meier P, Livingston M & Holmes J (2020) . Addiction, 115(2), 230-238.
  • Early E, Fairbrother H & Curtis P (2019) . Families, Relationships and Societies, 8(2), 213-229.
  • Kirkcaldy A, Fairbrother H, Weiner K & Curtis P (2019) . Health and Place, 57, 157-164.
  • Spencer G, Smith M, Thompson J, Fairbrother H, Hoare K, Fouché C & Curtis P (2019) . Health Education Journal, 78(1), 96-107.
  • Fairbrother H (2018) . Children's Geographies.
  • Curtis P, Thompson J & Fairbrother H (2018) . Public Health, 158, 71-85.
  • Fairbrother H, Curtis P & Goyder E (2016) . SSM - Population Health, 2, 476-484.
  • Fairbrother H, Curtis P & Goyder E (2016) . Health and Place, 51-57.
  • Fairbrother H (2013) . Public Health, 127(2), 194-194.
  • Fairbrother H (2012) . Teaching in Higher Education, 17(3), 353-358.
  • Fairbrother H, Curtis P & Goyder E (2012) . Health & Social Care in the Community, 20(5), 528-536.
  • Fairbrother H (2012) . Children & Society, 26(2), 168-169.
  • Fairbrother H (2011) . Journal of Public Health, 33(4), 634-635.
  • Curtis P, Thompson J & Fairbrother H () Migrant children within Europe: a systematic review of children’s perspectives on their health experiences. Public Health.

Book chapters

  • Fairbrother H & Ellis K (2018) , Families, Intergenerationality, and Peer Group Relations (pp. 149-168). Springer Singapore
  • Fairbrother H & Ellis K (2016) In Punch S, Vanderbeck R & Skelton T (Ed.), Families, Intergenerationality and Peer Group Relations (pp. 1-20). Singapore: Springer.

Conference proceedings

  • Holding E, Woodrow N, Aminu H, Arnott B, Fairbrother H, Cripps H, Wilson L & Goyder E (2024) . SSM Annual Scientific Meeting (pp A47.1-A47)
  • Fairbrother H, Burn A, Crowder M, Goyder E, Holding E, Kraftl P & Woodrow N (2024) . SSM Annual Scientific Meeting (pp A6.3-A7)
  • Hatch L, Widnall E, Albers P, Hopkins G, Kidger J, Vocht FD, Kaner E, Sluijs EV, Fairbrother H & Jago R (2023) . SSM Annual Scientific Meeting (pp A98.1-A98)
  • Widnall E, Albers P, Hatch L, Hopkins G, Kidger J, Vocht FD, Kaner E, Sluijs EV, Fairbrother H & Jago R (2023) . SSM Annual Scientific Meeting (pp A97.1-A97)
  • Hock E, Blank L, Fairbrother H, Clowes M, Cuevas DC, Booth A & Goyder E (2023) . SSM Annual Scientific Meeting (pp A11.2-A12)
  • Fairbrother H, Woodrow N, Crowder M, Holding E, Griffin N, Er V, Dodd-Reynolds C, Egan M, Knight N & Lock K (2023) . SSM Annual Scientific Meeting (pp A11.1-A11)
  • Albers P, Widnall E, Hatch L, Hopkins G, Sharp C, Kidger J, Vocht FD, Kaner E, Sluijs EV & Fairbrother H (2023) . SSM Annual Scientific Meeting (pp A133.2-A133)
  • Dodd-Reynolds C, Griffin N, Kyle P, Scott S, Fairbrother H, Woodrow N, Crowder M, Holding E, Er V, Egan M , Lock K et al (2023) . SSM Annual Scientific Meeting (pp A126.2-A127)
  • Fairbrother H, Crowder M, Dodd-Reynolds C, Egan M, Er V, Goyder E, Griffin N, Holding E, Lock K, Scott S , Summerbell C et al (2021) . The Lancet, Vol. 398(Suppl 2) (pp S44-S44). Virtual conference, 25 November 2021 - 25 November 2021.
  • Woodrow N, Fairbrother H, Breheny K, d'Apice K, Albers P, Mills C, Curtis M, Hopkins L, Tebbett S, Campbell R & De Vocht F (2021) . The Lancet, Vol. 398(Suppl 2) (pp S91-S91). Virtual conference, 26 November 2021 - 26 November 2021.
  • Fairbrother H, Crowder M, Dodd-Reynolds C, Egan M, Er V, Goyder E, Griffin N, Holding E, Lock K, Scott S , Summerbell C et al (2021) . European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 31(Supplement 3). Virtual conference, 10 November 2021 - 10 November 2021.
  • Jessiman P, Fairbrother H, Williams P, Powell K, Crowder M, Williams J & Kipping R (2020) . European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 30(Supplement_5). Virtual conference, 12 October 2020 - 12 October 2020.
  • Fairbrother H, Holding E, Powell K, Griffin N, Wistow J & Summerbell C (2020) . European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 30(Supplement_5). Virtual conference, 12 October 2020 - 12 October 2020.
  • Thompson J, Fairbrother H & Curtis P (2018) . European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 28(suppl_1). Edinburgh, Scotland, 17 May 2018 - 19 May 2018.

Reports

  • Oldham M, Holmes J, Whitaker V, Fairbrother H & Curtis P (2018)
  • Blank L, Baxter SK, Buckley-Woods H, Fairbrother H, Bissell P, Goyder E & Salway S (2016)

Preprints

  • Oxenham AF, Braune T, van Sluijs E, Fairbrother H, Martin A & Winpenny EM (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Holmes J, Fairbrother H, Livingston M, Meier PS, Oldham M, Pennay A & Whitaker V () .
Research group

I am an active member of the cross-faculty Health Equity Group and the Children and Young People’s Research Theme group in the School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery.

I am interested in supervising students in my research areas and welcome prospective students getting in touch to discuss potential applications.

Grants
Principal InvestigatorSponsorTitleDates
Fenton, L. Areas for Research Innovation Programme School for Public Health Research (SPHR) National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Real-time Methods for Public Health2025–27
Carrieri, D, Fairbrother, H & Winpenny, E. VoYSES Programme School for Public Health Research (SPHR), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the People's Health Trust 2025–27
Fairbrother, HEmerging Priorities Programme School for Public Health Research (SPHR) National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)2024–25
Hurley, KSchool for Public Health Research (SPHR) National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)2024–25
Fairbrother, HSchool for Public Health Research (SPHR), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 2023–25
Mason, WSchool for Public Health Research (SPHR), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)2024–25
Dodd-Reynolds, CSchool for Public Health Research (SPHR), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)2023–24
Winpenny, ENational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)2023–24
Powell, K Grantham Centre Go FundActivism for Planetary Health and Equity2023
Goyder, EPublic Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (PHIRST), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)2022–23
Fairbrother, HResearch England2022
Goyder, EPublic Health Research, National Institute for Health Research2022
Fairbrother, HSchool for Public Health Research, National Institute for Health Research2020–22
Jago, R & Campbell, RSchool for Public Health Research, National Institute for Health Research2020–22
Fairbrother, H & DeVocht, FPublic Health Practice Evaluation Scheme, School for Public Health Research, National Institute for Health Research2020–21
Kipping, R., Powell, K. and Fairbrother, H.School for Public Health Research, National Institute for Health Research2019–20
Summerbell, C., Wistow, J., Powell, K. and Fairbrother, H.School for Public Health Research, National Institute for Health Research2019–20
Salami, B.Worldwide Universities Network2019–20
Fairbrother, HESRC Festival of the Social SciencesLast orders: why might young people be drinking less alcohol?2018
Thompson, JMigration Matters FestivalHidden Voices: The Health Experiences of Migrant Children by Abdulazez Dukan2018
Holmes, JWellcome TrustWhy is youth alcohol consumption failing?  A mixed methods investigation of changing drinking cultures across recent generations.2018–2022
Fairbrother, H & Thompson, JWorldwide Universities Network2016–2017
Swallow, VWhite Rose2016
Blank, LJoseph Rowntree FoundationRelationship between poverty and stress, low level anxiety and depression across the life course2015–2016
Fairbrother, HImpact, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (IIKE) University of Sheffield,All ¾Ã²Ý¸£Àû Me: making sense of health messages in a hands-on exhibition space2015
Fairbrother, HResearch Exchange for the Social Sciences (RESS), University of SheffieldAll ¾Ã²Ý¸£Àû Collaboration: co-producing impact with a community partner2015
Teaching activities

I am committed to promoting educational equity and my approach to teaching is guided by a desire to create meaningful, engaging and constructively aligned programmes of learning to enable students from a wide variety of backgrounds to thrive in Higher Education and beyond.

I enjoy teaching and endeavour to integrate learning from and enthusiasm for my research into my teaching practice. I teach both undergraduate and postgraduate students using face-to-face, distance and blended learning modes.

I am the strategic lead for Public Health teaching and co-lead Evidence Synthesis teaching across AHPNM.  I am currently involved in teaching related to the Social Determinants of Health, Health Inequalities, Health Promotion and Literature reviewing. I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and have been awarded the Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

Professional activities and memberships
  • Trustee,
  • Sheffield Representative, 
  • Member of the leadership team for the , with a particular focus on public involvement and engagement work.
  • Co-lead for the for the University of Sheffield, with my colleague Dr Jill Thompson.
  • Member, 
  • Member, 
  • Member, University of Sheffield