Re-imaging malaria in the Philippines: how photovoice can help to re-imagine malaria

Abstract

BackgroundThis paper responds to a recent call for malaria to be re-imagined by: explaining why it needs to be re-imagined; offering one possible way in which this can be done; and describing some of benefits for malaria control when it is.MethodsThis study involved conducting a 15-week photovoice project with 44 predominantly ethnically Palawan school-going children in the municipality of Bataraza in the Philippines. The primary aim was to critically examine how facilitating children to take their own pictures of malaria could alter their understanding of it as well as the practices that they then engaged into prevent and treat it.Results and discussionDuring the photovoice process, participants responded to the question, ‘what does malaria mean to you?’ by photographing multiple versions of malaria. Some of these versions align with biomedical conceptions and mirror common images of: its sources (e.g. mosquitoes); symptoms (e.g. fever); prevention practices (e.g. use of mosquito nets); diagnostic practices (e.g. use Rapid Diagnostic Tests) and treatment practices (e.g. use of anti-malarial drugs). However, in addition to these depictions, participants also took images of malaria that aligned with more local understanding of the body, health and well-being, which are often neglected by health practitioners. In the case of the Palawan, these versions of malaria are structured around the central tenet of balance. Participants therefore photographed themselves and members of their family and community engaging in a number of practices, which are orientated towards restoring and maintaining balance. As well being an effective means to illuminate multiple malarias and the practices that surround them, photovoice also enabled participants to learn new things and significantly, teach these things to others using their images.ConclusionPhotovoice is an effective method for re-imaging malaria. It allowed participants to depict and describe multiple versions of malaria and the practices that they engage in in context. Photovoice also had a potentially transformative effect. It acted as a means for participants and researchers to: visually depict everyday practices; collectively gain a deeper understanding of this doing; and then seek ways in which to make changes in line with this joint understanding.

Informing new or improved vector control tools for reducing the malaria burden in Tanzania: a qualitative exploration of perceptions of mosquitoes and methods for their control among the residents of Dar es Salaam

“…The design was exploratory using three complementary qualitative and participatory methods, to enable data triangulation across independent methods: photovoice (PV), focus group discussions (FGDs), and in-depth interviews (IDIs). PV is a photographic approach to documenting user perceptions that is emerging as a new tool in malaria research [17, 18]. It is a participatory research method which allows participants to identify, represent and document objects, processes and phenomena within their community through photography [19, 20].…”

“…The method enables participants to record and reflect their community’s strength and concerns, to promote critical dialogue and knowledge through group discussions, and to communicate with policy makers [19, 20]. The PV approach involves a series of procedural steps that guide the ethical implementation of the method [17–20]. The results are reported according to the criteria for reporting qualitative research [21].…”

Retratos, relatos e impressões de crianças moradoras da periferia de São Paulo por meio do fotovoz

“…De maneira geral, o fotovoz foi utilizado para saber sobre as crianças a partir das perspectivas delas próprias sobre assuntos específicos. Nas publicações encontradas, os autores buscaram saber sobre suas comunidades (Alaca et al, 2017), seus trajetos cotidianos (Mitchell et al, 2007), a construção de seus "selfies" (Benninger;Savahl, 2016), práticas e ambientes de atividade física e alimentação Smith, 2015;Fitzgerald et al, 2009), sobre a compreensão da malária e suas práticas de prevenção e tratamento (Iskander, 2015), as experiências de jogo (Berinstein; Magalhães, 2009) e também sobre o próprio uso das metodologias participativas (Pereira et al, 2016).…”

“…et. al., 2016), assim como instrumento para o envolvimento das crianças em assuntos específicos Smith, 2015), e para o favorecimento de aprendizados de coisas novas e significativas não só para os participantes diretos, mas também para pessoas externas à pesquisa, dadas as imagens produzidas (Iskander, 2015).…”

“…Na literatura sobre o fotovoz com crianças, considerando as singularidades dos percursos de cada pesquisa, a metodologia costuma ser estruturada a partir de fotografias realizadas pelos participantes isoladamente em seus contextos de vida e de encontros posteriores de discussão e compartilhamento do trabalho (Alaca et al, 2017;Greco et al, 2017;Benninger;Savahl, 2016;Pereira et. al., 2016;Smith, 2015;Kovacic et al, 2015;Iskander, 2015;Alexander et al, 2014;Joubert, 2012;Fitzgerald et al, 2009;Berinstein;Magalhães, 2009;Mitchell et al, 2007).…”