8/7/2019 Introduction to Research: Using Photovoice

1/1

Introduction to Research: Using Photovoice

Project funded and supported by:

What is Photovoice?

Photovoice is used as a research method to tell a story or recognize a specific issue through photogra-phy. e images depict struggles or show an individuals particular view.

Photovoice uses photos to explain/address a chosen topic or issue.

How did we use Photovoice?Six youth from Inuvik took part in a 5-day course on Introduction to Research using Photovoice. esix of us were co-researchers in addressing current issues in our community.

We then developed a question to research in Inuvik.

Each individual was given a camera and was asked to take pictures of whatever they felt answered thequestions we came up with. We then had group discussions about the chosen photos that representedour questions, followed by the photo owner describing how the photo answered the question and whatit meant to them.

What are the benefits of Photovoice?

e participant will gain technical skills using cameras and computers.

Photovoice enables the individual(s) to express personal points of views, while addressingcommon themes and issues.

Photovoice also increases community awareness, improves individual(s) self-confidence,creativity and self-esteem.

Using photovoice also offers an opportunity to influence decisions that affect theirlives and may develop a better understanding of the i nfluence of socioeconomic status andculture.

Questions we developed to research:

What contributes

to good health in Inuvik?

What are the challenges

to achieving good health?

Conclusions

Our group concluded that good health in Inuvik consists of many factors such as freedomstrength, and opportunities, in addition to positive mental and spiritual health. ere are manthat influence an individuals ability to maintain good health, such as: pollution, makingchoices, diet and exercise. However, this may be easier said, than done. As a group we camesolutions that promote good health in Inuvik: youth involvement, acts of kindness, educatpositive encouragement and support to improve self-confidence for community members.

Good school. Bad forthe environment?

Pros: Safe building (as the old foyer roof collapsed),accommodates K-12 in one building, more energy efficient

heating/water consumption; potentially lowering costs.

Cons: All the plants and trees that were cut down, theengines running causes pollution in the atmosphere, the

blue plastic wrap can be harmful to the environment.

Vibrant, green,healthytrash?

is area of bright green grass is only one of many ex-amples of pollution to the environment. ere is not onlya styrofoam cup with a plastic lid, there is also several ciga-rette butts that can pose a tremendous amount of chemi-cal pollutants that harm humans, animals and the organ-

isms that surround us.

Window of Opportunitye window being ajar signifies to keep your options

open. You choose your own path in life and the decisionsyou make will affect your future. e screen acts as a

filter, and the dust on the screen represents the bad

choices youve decided not to choose. erefore, makinghealthy choices leads to a healthy lifestyle.

Another opportunity we were ableto learn about is interviewing skills

We determined that healthy food choices were affecting health in Inuvikand conducted interviews with hunters to learn more about the benefitsof traditional foods. With the help of our instructors, we developed a

questionnaire to gain information about hunters and harvesters in ourarea. We came up with 12 questions that we thought would help us learnmore about our hunters and har vesters. e questions ranged from verybroad questions like, How often do you hunt or harvest? to specificquestions such as, Do you share the foods you have hunted? If yes,what parts do you share?

T Moran1, H Blackett2,3,4, D Kurszewski3, S Chatwood2,3

1Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, 2University of Toronto, 3Institute for Circumpolar Health Research, 4Public Health Agency of Canada

BeaufortDelta Region

Inuvik

CANADA