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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

India J. Ornelas, MPH¹, Earl Horton, BS², Eugenia Eng, MPH, DrPH³, Scott Rhodes, PhD, MPH, CHES⁴, and Helen Cole¹. (1) Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, 919-966-0057, ornelas@email.unc.edu, (2) MAN for Health Project, Strengthening the Black Family, Inc., 568 E. Lenoir Street, P.O. Box 28715, Raleigh, NC 27611, (3) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, School of Public Health CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, (4) Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Public Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063

Observers and investigators of lay health advisor (LHA) interventions have noted difficulties in documenting how LHAs fulfill their roles. To evaluate fidelity of intervention delivery, an innovative process evaluation method, Photovoice, was conducted on the Men as Navigators (MAN) for Health project. Six LHAs, known as Navigators, at each site completed up to 8 sequences of photo-assignments followed by photo-discussion, using a Freirean-based critical dialogue technique to identify, reflect, and act on issues about their LHA roles with men in their own communities.

Session one was an orientation to the use of disposable cameras and human subject protection. Up to 8 subsequent sessions included: agreement on each photo-assignment; sharing the photographs taken for each photo-assignment; selecting one photo for a photo-discussion by the group; and, planning a Photovoice Forum with “influential advocates” to discuss the findings. Examples of photo-assignments chosen by the Navigators were: “Men's fears;” “Things that are unhealthy about my community;” “Men we aren't reaching;” and “Why men are reactive instead of proactive.” Photo-discussions were audio taped and transcribed verbatim for analysis. Resulting themes revealed positive and challenges associated with being a Navigator and unique health challenges facing men of color in each of the three communities. Results from the Photovoice Forum will help inform the sustainability of MAN for Health Navigators and future male lay health advisor interventions.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe the photovoice methodology and how it can be used for process evaluation.
• 2. Identify the challenges facing African-American and Latino men who serve as lay health advisors.

Keywords: Photovoice, Lay Health Workers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered