Oral

This session demonstrates how maternal child health social justice issues can be understood through the application of qualitative methods ranging from more traditional methods such as interviewing and observation to application of a relatively newer technique, Photovoice. The four studies presented demonstrate how their findings from qualitative analyses bring to light alternative ways of understanding intransigent or developing issues faced by MCH professionals in public health. The first analyzes media messages for SIDS prevention and general recommendations regarding breastfeeding and bedsharing. The second and third both employ a technique called Photovoice. The first of these two presentation s discusses a study of low-income urban families with elementary-age children, to understand how they negotiate and organize their food and PA practices across the levels of home, school, and community. The analyses move beyond existing ways of thinking (models of individual change or deficit) to provide insights into how to build on familial, organizational, and community supports and facilitators to family nutrition and physical activity practices. The second Photovoice presentation (including photography, journaling and group discussion) analysis examines infant mortality, identifying cultural strengths and mothering practices within African American adolescents and their community. The findings of this participatory analysis is on the intergenerational transfer of practices and to inform health care professionals and community to identifying and developing culturally relevant strategies to support adolescent mothers and their infants. The final presentation also focuses on youth, in this case, youth leaders, using both in-depth interviews and participant observation. Applying Maton's conceptual model of six empowering organization it examines the potential role that organizational or setting characteristics play in fostering youth sociopolitical development.

Session Objectives: Participants will be able to 1 - describe and compare use of qualitative methods in understanding MCH issues 2 - discuss uses of Photovoice 3 - discuss examples of how qualitative methods bring new insights into MCH issues

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)