Our world through our eyes: adolescents use photovoice to speak their mind on adolescent health, well-being, and sexuality in Lima, Peru

Abstract

Peru's approach to its 5.7 million 10- to 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 low-income 12- to 16-year-olds (n = 13) from Lima. Sessions included basic photography and ethics, photo taking, and descriptions and discussions using the SHOWeD (What do you See here? What is really Happening? How does this relate to Our lives? Why does this problem or strength exist? What can we Do about it?) method. Participants grouped their photos into a "photo story." Each section of the story consisted of a message and 4 to 10 photos. Each photo had a caption that answered the SHOWeD questions. Messages were (a) "health and well-being in danger of extinction," (b) "with some signs of hope," (c) "innocence in spite of everything," (d) "what we as adolescents have," and (e) "but we lack opportunities to live a better life and a responsible sexuality." Participants presented the photo story to program planners, policy makers, 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.

Keywords: Peru; adolescents; health; photovoice; sexuality; well-being.

Figure 1. Telephone post with an ad (Ronald, age 16)

Caption within text.

Figure 2. El cole (Erika, age 12) and Game on top of it all (Mónica, age 16)

This is my school. It’s a strength because it helps us to better ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. It’s also a worry since there are bad schools with bad teachers. I don’t want to change my school, but there are schools I’d like to change, by talking with mayors, school directors and teachers. Young people are playing soccer. People should play more sports since they are good for us, they make us healthier, and we make more friends and become more sociable. There are a lot of deteriorated soccer fields because of a lack of organization and support. The municipality should accept more projects to improve our recreation spaces.

Figure 3. Two dolls (Karen, age 13) and “Zero-star” sex hotel (Marcos, age 16)

These are two dolls that are being intimate in bed, using a condom. This is a strength since they’re using a condom and therefore won’t transmit diseases. I don’t want to change this at all because without condoms, there’d be many people with diseases and HIV and many unwanted children. Everyone, including young people, needs workshops about how to use and where to get condoms. People, including adolescents, use this place to spend a night with their partners. This is a worry since today people aren’t responsible when they have sex and most don’t use a condom or another contraceptive method. We can change this by giving talks to young people about sexuality, sex and contraceptive methods.