 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Scott D. Rhodes, PhD, MPH, CHES, Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Section on Social Sciences and Health Policy, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, J. Matt Streng, MPH, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, 308 Rosenau Hall, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, 919/966.8650, streng@email.unc.edu, Ramiro Arceo, BA, Student Action with Farmworkers, 1317 West Pettigrew Street, Durham, NC 27705, Selena Phipps, BA, CHES, Chatham County Health Department, 80 East Street, PO Box 130, Pittsboro, NC 27312, Eugenia Eng, DrPH, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, CB #7440, 3rd Floor Rosenau, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, and Guadalupe X. Ayala, PhD, MPH, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, CB #7440, Rosenau Hall 315, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440.
Introduction: According to the 2000 U.S. Census, North Carolina has the fastest growing Latino population. From June through December 2002, 12 recently-arrived Latino adolescents were engaged in a participatory action research (PAR) method known as Photovoice to convey how their experiences associated with living in a new environment affected their health and wellbeing.
Methods: Disposable cameras were distributed to Latino adolescents who used photography to document their reactions to group-defined themes. Each adolescent selected a subset of photographs to present to the group as triggers for discussion; probes built on the Freirian process of root-cause questioning.
Six photograph cycles were completed to allow the adolescents to iteratively explore themes. Session notes and transcripts were recorded and transcribed in Spanish, and analyzed. Results were validated through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) process.
A community forum with participant-selected photographs and session quotations was conducted to inform decision-makers and community members about the needs and assets of Latino adolescents. The forum mobilized school and community partnerships for community and policy changes.
Results: Emergent themes revealed Latino adolescents' high levels of perceived racism and prejudice in social norms sanctioned by schools and the wider community, and the non-supportive nature of official school policies. Strengths included common within-group characteristics, including the importance of family and religion.
Conclusion: Latino adolescents identified several barriers and assets associated with social integration within their school and community at large. Understanding these barriers and their impact on the health and well-being of Latino adolescents is fundamental to the development of effective services and policies responsive to the challenges faced by Latino adolescents.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Immigration
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.