Using photovoice to examine the health concerns of workers at a horse racetrack

Workers in the horse racing industry often live and work on the backside of the track, traveling track to track as the racing season dictates. There has been little research about the health concerns and living conditions of these workers. In the summer of 2009 we conducted a community-based participatory research project with workers at a local racetrack using the photovoice method. The study participants (N=5) worked and lived on the backside of the horse racetrack. Each participant was given and taught to use a digital camera, and they determined the weekly assignments for documenting health and life on the backside of the track. The photo assignments selected by the participants were “A day in the life of a worker”, “Safety” and “Isolation”. At each session, participants presented and discussed their pictures using the SHOWED technique: what do you SEE in this photograph, what is really HAPPENING in this photograph, how does this relate to OUR lives, WHY do these issues exist, how can we become EMPOWERED and what can we DO to address these issues. Each session was audio taped and transcribed, with researchers using the constant comparison technique to evaluate the transcripts for unifying themes. Participants validated the themes and used them to select pictures and quotes for a community display about the health concerns of racetrack workers.