Picturing the health of a community: A community-engaged health assessment of Weber and Morgan Counties in Utah

Background: Community health assessments (CHAs) are an important activity for any local health department.  Results can guide both programming and policy, as well as assist in the process of gaining accreditation. Through a collaboration between the Weber-Morgan Health Department (WMHD) and Weber State University (Health Promotion and Visual Arts), the purpose of this project was to supplement the WMHD CHA with qualitative data on residents’ perspectives on the health of themselves, their families, and their community.  Methods: This project utilized a two-phase, sequential research design.  Phase one utilized a basic interpretive qualitative methodology with focus groups as the data collection method.  Phase two utilized a participatory photovoice methodology and was influenced by results of phase one.  Both visual (photographs) and narrative data were collected through participant photography and a series of meetings with project participants.  An inductive, conventional content analysis approach to coding and thematic development was used to analyze both types of qualitative data.   Results: Results from phase one revealed, among other themes, concerns about access to, and quality of, health care for residents who are low-income and who identify as members of minority and disadvantaged communities. Phase two participants explored these themes through photography and provided additional results that revealed issues around inequity, poverty, and mental health.  Conclusions:  This community-engaged and participatory methodology resulted in rich, in-depth data that served as an important component of the WMHD CHA, and, as a vehicle to disseminate assessment results (i.e., a public photography exhibit).