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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Jun 2;11(6):e0156500.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156500. eCollection 2016.

The Cooking and Pneumonia Study (CAPS) in Malawi: A Nested Pilot of Photovoice Participatory Research Methodology

Jane Ardrey  1   2 , Nicola Desmond  1   2 , Rachel Tolhurst  1 , Kevin Mortimer  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The Cooking and Pneumonia Study (CAPS) in Malawi: A Nested Pilot of Photovoice Participatory Research Methodology

Jane Ardrey et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The Cooking and Pneumonia Study (CAPS) is a village-level randomised controlled trial of an advanced cookstove intervention to prevent pneumonia in children under the age of 5 in rural Malawi (www.capstudy.org). The trial offers a unique opportunity to gain understanding about the social and cultural factors that may facilitate sustained use of improved cookstoves. In January 2015, the use of Photovoice as a participatory research methodology was piloted at the CAPS Chikhwawa site. Photovoice is a photographic technique that allows communities (including women and marginalised groups) to share knowledge about their perspectives and priorities. Four households were given digital cameras and asked to collect images over 24-48 hours and were then interviewed on film about their selection. This resulted in over 400 images and a one hour long film that revealed community concerns and could be thematically analysed. The collection of interview data through film was useful for capturing discussion and was acceptable to participants. Photovoice is a feasible participatory research methodology that can play a valuable role in qualitative studies of improved cookstove adoption in challenging resource poor settings.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Map of Malawi.
Chikhwawa in shown highlighted, south of Blantyre, the commercial capital of Malawi (based on United Nations Map no.3658).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Camera Training 1.
The younger female participant practising turning the camera on and off, assisted by the local filmmaker.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Camera Training 2.
The older female participant capturing a test shot of the CAPS Senior Fieldworker.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Interviewing Process.
The female head of household explaining her image collection.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Linking pictures and text to cookstove adoption issues.
Example quotes and associated images are displayed with suggestions for further cookstove adoption research questions and areas that could be explored through qualitative research.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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