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Articles

Research as intervention? Exploring the health and well-being of children and youth facing global adversity through participatory visual methods

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Pages 528-545 | Received 16 Oct 2014, Accepted 19 Jan 2016, Published online: 04 Apr 2016
 

ABSTRACT

Global health research typically relies on the translation of knowledge (from health professionals to the community) and the dissemination of knowledge (from research results to the wider public). However, Greenhalgh and Wieringa [2011. Is it time to drop the ‘knowledge translation’ metaphor? A critical literature review. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 104(12), 501–509. doi:10.1258/jrsm.2011.110285] suggest ‘that while “translation” is a widely used metaphor in medicine, it constrains how we conceptualize and study the link between knowledge and practice’ (p. 501). Often the knowledge garnered from such research projects comes from health professionals rather than reflecting the lived experiences of people and communities. Likewise, there has been a gap in ‘translating’ and ‘disseminating’ the results of participatory action research projects to policymakers and medical practitioners. This paper will look at how using participatory visual methodologies in global health research with children and youth facing global adversity incorporates the multiple functions of their lived realities so that research becomes a means of intervention. Drawing from a literature review of participatory visual methods as media, content and processes of global health research, this paper raises practical, theoretical, and ethical questions that arise from research as intervention. The paper concludes by exploring what lessons emerge when participatory visual methodologies are integrated into global health research with children and youth facing global adversity.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. We use the capitalised Image theatre to indicate the concept of using the bodies to tell a story, and image to indicate the representation of the story itself.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Fonds Québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture.

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