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Photovoice Reveals Residents’ Concerns for Air and Water Quality in Industry-Impacted Rural Community

Author

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  • Shelby M. Rimmler

    (School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Sarah Shaughnessy

    (Planning & Development, City of Raleigh, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA)

  • Ellis Tatum

    (Independent Researcher, Snow Hill, NC 28580, USA)

  • Naeema Muhammad

    (North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, Raleigh, NC 27612, USA)

  • Shaelyn Hawkins

    (Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Alexandra Lightfoot

    (Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Sherri White-Williamson

    (Environmental Justice Community Action Network, Clinton, NC 28328, USA)

  • Courtney G. Woods

    (Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

Abstract

Rural communities of color in the southeastern U.S. experience a high burden of environmental hazards from concentrated industry placement. Community-engaged research and qualitative methods can improve our understanding of meaning-making in a community impacted by polluting facilities. This study applies the photovoice method to assess how a predominantly African American community in rural North Carolina, impacted by a landfill and confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), perceives their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Two research questions were developed with community-based partners: (a) How do environmental health concerns in this community influence residents’ perceptions of their HRQoL? and (b) How do community and county factors facilitate or inhibit community organizing around these concerns? Three photo assignment sessions were held to engage participants in discussions related to the research questions. Researchers analyzed discussion audio recordings and identified themes related to concerns about the following issues: health and quality of life, the landfill industry’s influence on community cohesion and self-determination, and actions to address environmental injustice in Sampson County. Photovoice benefits community-engaged researchers by providing a process for assessing the research interests of a community. Photovoice also serves community organizers by providing residents with a structured way to discuss their lived experiences and strategize ways to reduce hazard exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Shelby M. Rimmler & Sarah Shaughnessy & Ellis Tatum & Naeema Muhammad & Shaelyn Hawkins & Alexandra Lightfoot & Sherri White-Williamson & Courtney G. Woods, 2023. "Photovoice Reveals Residents’ Concerns for Air and Water Quality in Industry-Impacted Rural Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:9:p:5656-:d:1134120
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Ahmed, S.M. & Palermo, A.-G.S., 2010. "Community engagement in research: Frameworks for education and peer review," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(8), pages 1380-1387.
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