Geneva Health Forum 2024

Applying the photovoice method with adolescents in mining areas in rural Mozambique: critical reflections and lessons learned

Not scheduled

15m

Geneva

Oral presentation or scientific poster Migration, health and equity

Description

Background: There is a recognised need for innovative methods to elicit the perspective of adolescents on public health issues, particularly when addressing sensitive topics such as the impact of mining projects on their health and well-being. Participatory approaches such as “photovoice” allow for deep engagement of vulnerable and marginalised populations, including adolescents. However, few existing studies have used the photovoice method to reflect on issues related to the environment and its impact on public health. To date, no studies have been found that have used photovoice to gain insight into adolescentsʼ perspectives in mining areas. In this paper, we discuss the application of the photovoice method to understand adolescents’ perceptions about the impact of mining projects on their health and well-being in rural areas in Mozambique.
Methodology: The study was conducted in northern and central Mozambique. Photovoice was successfully integrated into eight focus group discussions with adolescent girls and boys aged 15 to 17 years.
Results: Photovoice provided an understanding of the perceived impacts of mining on their health and well-being. Several lessons for guiding future research were learned. First, photovoice promoted active engagement and interest in the study by the adolescents. Second, discussions guided by the photos encouraged adolescents to freely express themselves and reflect on their unique experiences and concerns, which were mainly linked with infrastructures / physical spaces and environmental hazards. Finally, compared to its ability to capture perceptions of physical and environmental aspects affecting adolescents' well-being, the method was less straightforward in revealing their concerns regarding social, relational and community aspects that are less tangible.Nevertheless, there is potential for further expansion of its use in Health Impact Assessment (HIA) in vulnerable and or marginalised groups, offering an entry point for future validation in the field of environmental research targeting adolescents.
Conclusion: Programs and interventions can make use of this method to address environmental health issues without setting adolescents’ views and priorities aside, allowing them to influence health decisions on issues that are meaningful to them while taking into account differences among these groups. Future studies should explore strategies to minimize the role of the power dynamics that affect the engagement and contribution of adolescents in advocating for necessary and meaningful changes. Future studies should explore strategies to minimize the role of the existing inequalities, social and cultural positions of adolescents, and pre-existing power dynamics that still affect their engagement and contribution to advocating for necessary and meaningful changes.