Photovoice in the Red River Basin of the north: a systematic evaluation of a community-academic partnership

Health Promot Pract. 2012 Sep;13(5):599-607. doi: 10.1177/1524839910370737. Epub 2011 Nov 18.

Abstract

A community-academic partnership was formed in Minnesota's Red River Basin for a 1-year planning grant preceding a larger intervention to reduce pesticide exposure among children. Photovoice, developed by Dr. Caroline Wang, was used by mothers to document pathways to pesticide exposure for their children along with other health and safety concerns. An evaluation of the partnership was conducted for mothers, and for the research team of local stakeholders and academics. Surveys consisting of structured and open-ended questions elicited information on the perception of the process and short-term outcomes. Questions were created based on objectives of the Photovoice project, satisfaction, and principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR). A high percentage of study participants and researchers indicated that the objectives of the effort had been met, the principles of CBPR had been realized and they were satisfied with the benefits of participation. A need for more thorough planning was identified related to long-term dissemination of knowledge generated. The evaluation provides insight on the strengths and weaknesses of the project, demonstrates to team members and funders that formative and summative outcomes were met, and serves as a model for community-academic partnerships utilizing Photovoice as one CBPR method.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Awareness
  • Child
  • Community-Based Participatory Research
  • Community-Institutional Relations*
  • Environmental Exposure / prevention & control
  • Environmental Pollutants / toxicity
  • Female
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Humans
  • Minnesota
  • Mothers*
  • Pesticides / toxicity
  • Pregnancy
  • Program Evaluation
  • Universities*
  • Videotape Recording / methods*

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Pesticides