Feasibility, Challenges and Lessons Learned: Photovoice Implementation Among Young Women in the Urban Slums in Kampala, Uganda

Photovoice is an established, qualitative participatory method for visualizing and deconstructing complex topics and research questions. We used Photovoice as a research methodology for understanding the proximal and social environmental stressors and their role in mental health equity and outcomes among young women residing in three urban slums in Kampala, Uganda. The Photovoice methodology was selected to encourage active participation and reflection from the women with lived experience to ensure their voices and reflections were captured as part of our overarching project goal. Photovoice has not typically been used in urban slums and similar low-resource settings with young women. Our Photovoice project was conducted in 2022 and engaged 15 women who participated in Uganda Youth Development Drop-in center activities. It comprised facilitated group discussions, photograph reviews, and culminated in a theme validation discussion. We focus on the application and the implementation process specifically of Photovoice, the women’s reactions to the project, and their fears, hopes and learning outcomes to guide others who may choose to implement Photovoice in similar populations and settings. The women found it a very positive experience overall, particularly the social aspects of the training, the discussion of the photos, feeling empowered to reflect on their situations and receipt of compensation. However, they also noted challenges with using the mobile phone and using it to take photos. Qualitative participatory research strategies are important for global health research seeking to improve health equity in urban low-resource settings, particularly with young women with lived experience. However, factors pertaining to the logistics and ethics of implementation strategies need to be thoughtfully considered in the design of these studies and for rigorous training of study participants.