Our World Through Our Eyes: Adolescents use photovoice to speak their mind on adolescent health well-being and sexuality in Lima Peru

摘要

Peru’s approach to its 5.7 million 10-19 year olds has shifted toward positive youth development. Following that trend, our objective was to facilitate Peruvian adolescents’ use of photovoice to better understand the factors affecting their health, well-being and sexuality and to work with adolescents to present policy and programmatic recommendations. Photovoice sessions were carried out with 13 12-16 year olds from low-income Lima. Sessions included basic photography and ethics, photo-taking, and descriptions and discussions using the SHOWeD method. Participants grouped their photos into a “photo story.” Each section of the story consisted of a message and 4-10 photos. Each photo had a caption that answered the SHOWeD questions. Messages were: 1) “health and well-being in danger of extinction”; 2) “with some signs of hope”; 3) “innocence in spite of everything”; 4) “what we as adolescents have”; and 5) “but we lack opportunities to live a better life and a responsible sexuality.” Participants presented the photo story to program planners, policymakers and community members. Results underscore the value of including adolescents in program and policy planning and affirm that photovoice can achieve such inclusion. Photovoice provides a concrete method for adolescents to speak their mind through image and word.