"We don't get much of a voice about anything": perspectives on photovoice among people who inject drugs

In the context of the current US opioid crisis, people who inject drugs (PWID) are increasingly researched, but their ability to tell their own stories may be limited. Photovoice is a participatory action research method that allows participants to use photography to directly depict their experience...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Harm reduction journal 2019-11, Vol.16 (1), p.61-61, Article 61
Main Authors: Drainoni, Mari-Lynn, Childs, Ellen, Biello, Katie B, Biancarelli, Dea L, Edeza, Alberto, Salhaney, Peter, Mimiaga, Matthew J, Bazzi, Angela R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceptability
Book publishing
Cameras
Codes
Community
Drug use
Drugs
Ethics
Harm reduction
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
Interviews
Intravenous
Marginalized groups
Medical ethics
Narcotics
Opioid abuse
Opioids
Participation
Participatory action research
Photography
Qualitative research
Research methodology
Research methods
Stigma
Substance abuse
Substance use disorder
Vulnerable populations
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Summary:In the context of the current US opioid crisis, people who inject drugs (PWID) are increasingly researched, but their ability to tell their own stories may be limited. Photovoice is a participatory action research method that allows participants to use photography to directly depict their experiences. We conducted interviews with PWID (n = 33) as part of a qualitative study on the health needs of PWID in the USA to explore interest and acceptability of photovoice as a potential research method and way to share their voices. Participants identified facilitators and barriers to participating in a future photovoice project. Facilitators included a chance to depict one's unique experience, help others in need by sharing one's own story, and photography being a more "comfortable" way to tell their stories than traditional research methods. Barriers included safety concerns, embarrassment, and ability to retain cameras. Participants also identified areas of sensitivity related to documenting drug use. While we found broad acceptability of photovoice, barriers would need to be addressed and additional training and support for research staff and potential participants related to the ethics of public photography and engaging PWID in photovoice research would be required.
ISSN:1477-7517
1477-7517
DOI:10.1186/s12954-019-0334-2