ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to explore Mexican adolescents' perceptions of environmental health risks in contaminated urban areas, and to test the environmental photography technique as a research tool for engaging adolescents in community-based health research. The study was conducted with 74 adolescents from two communities in the city of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Participants were provided with disposable cameras and asked to take photographs of elements and situations which they believed affected their personal health both at home and outside their homes. They were also asked to describe each photograph in writing. Photographs and written explanations were analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Risk perception plays a crucial role in the development of Risk Communication Programs (RCPs) aimed at the improvement of community health. The photography technique opens up a promising field for environmental health research since it affords a realistic and concise impression of the perceived risks. Adolescents in both communities perceived different environmental health risks as detrimental to their well-being, e.g. waste, air pollution, and lack of hygiene. Yet, some knowledge gaps remain which need to be addressed.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Environmental Health , Photography , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Mexico , Risk Assessment/methodsABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to explore Mexican adolescents' perceptions of environmental health risks in contaminated urban areas, and to test the environmental photography technique as a research tool for engaging adolescents in community-based health research. The study was conducted with 74 adolescents from two communities in the city of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Participants were provided with disposable cameras and asked to take photographs of elements and situations which they believed affected their personal health both at home and outside their homes. They were also asked to describe each photograph in writing. Photographs and written explanations were analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Risk perception plays a crucial role in the development of Risk Communication Programs (RCPs) aimed at the improvement of community health. The photography technique opens up a promising field for environmental health research since it affords a realistic and concise impression of the perceived risks. Adolescents in both communities perceived different environmental health risks as detrimental to their well-being, e.g. waste, air pollution, and lack of hygiene. Yet, some knowledge gaps remain which need to be addressed.
Objetivos: Analisar as percepções dos adolescentes mexicanos em relação aos riscos na saúde ambiental em áreas urbanas contaminadas, e testar a técnica da fotografia ambiental da comunidade sobre a percepção de risco local. Métodos: O estudo foi realizado com 74 adolescentes de duas comunidades na cidade de San Luis Potosi, no México. Os participantes receberam câmeras descartáveis e foram convidados a tirar fotografias de elementos e/ou situações em que acreditavam estar afetando sua saúde pessoal dentro ou fora de casa. Solicitou-se também aos participantes a descrição de cada fotografia por escrito. As fotografias e as explicações passaram pela análise de conteúdo quantitativa e qualitativa. Conhecer a percepção de risco dos adolescentes desempenha papel crucial no desenvolvimento de programas de comunicação de risco para a melhoria da saúde da comunidade. A técnica de fotografia é promissora para a pesquisa qualitativa em saúde ambiental por oferecer uma impressão realista e concisa das percepções de risco. Os adolescentes em ambas comunidades perceberam uma ampla gama de riscos de saúde ambientais prejudiciais ao seu bem-estar, por exemplo, resíduos, poluição do ar e falta de higiene. No entanto, ainda existem algumas de conhecimento que devem ser abordados. .
