 | 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 Health Behavior and Education, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, 323C Rosenau Hall, Campus Box #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, Florence M. Simán, MPH, Latino Program Coordinator, Child Care Networks, Magnolia House, 117 E. Salisbury Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312, 919-542-6644 X12, florence@childcarenetworks.org, and Eugenia Eng, DrPH, MPH, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, CB #7440, 3rd Floor Rosenau, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.
Introduction: According to the 2000 U.S. Census, North Carolina has the fastest growing Latino population. From July 2002 through February 2003, 12 recently-arrived Latina women 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, and the health and wellbeing of their families.
Methods: Disposable cameras were distributed to adult Latina women who used photography to document their reactions to group-defined themes. Each participant selected a subset of photographs to present to the group as triggers for discussion; probes built on the Freirian process of root-cause questioning.
Five photographic cycles were completed to allow the women to iteratively explore themes. Session notes and transcripts were recorded and transcribed in Spanish, and analyzed. All findings and interpretations were validated through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) process.
A community forum with participant-selected photographs and session quotations educated local decision-makers and community members to both the needs and the assets of Latina women and their families. This forum mobilized community partnerships for community and policy changes.
Results: Emergent themes revealed concerns related to transportation, child safety, and perceived racism and prejudice within community settings. Strengths included common within-group characteristics, including the importance of family and religion.
Conclusion: The women identified several barriers and assets associated with social integration within the community at large. Understanding these barriers and their impact on the health and well-being of Latina women is fundamental to the development of effective services and policies responsive to the challenges faced by Latina women and their families.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Community Participation, Advocacy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
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.