The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #65956

Ilana Reisz, MA, PG Bray, PhD, Karen J Williams, PhD, and Jane Peranteau, PhD. Community Health Assessment, St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities, 6221 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030, 713-807-0752, reisz@sbcglobal.net

Wang and others demonstrated that Photovoice is an effective method for participatory community health assessment that yields rich qualitative data although it may be time consuming and expensive. We developed an abbreviated version of Photovoice that we used as a participatory tool as part of an extensive community health assessment that included quantitative data profiling, inventorying of assets, and interviews with key informants. Our objectives were to involve community residents and demonstrate the rich diversity of views in an urban, medically underserved, low income, Hispanic community often regarded as a homogeneous community. Participants of three generational groups using single-use cameras photographed what they viewed as needs and strengths in their neighborhood. Participants discussed their photos and reached consensus on the critical categories they wanted to include in each group’s collaborative poster. We found that each group’s concerns were different. The use of abbreviated Photovoice as part of the community assessment exposed deeper and diverse levels of community concerns and involved residents generally not included in traditional assessments. While some residents worried that the posters will put their community in a ‘bad light’, and the abbreviated time did not permit development of participants’ skills as photographers or storytellers, participants reported that they appreciated the process and the community benefited by use of the outcomes for education and information.

Learning Objectives:

Participants in this session will be able to:
• describe considerations of including abbreviated Photovoice© in a comprehensive community health assessment
• discuss the advantages and disadvantages resulting from use of this abbreviated version of Photovoice©
• articulate how they may apply the use of abbreviated Photovoice© in their communities of interest

Keywords: Community Participation, Photovoice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am employed on contract basis as a senior research associate with St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities and was paid for the work that included this participatory research.