Citation

Bharmal N, Kennedy D, Jones L, Lee-Johnson C, Morris D, Caldwell B, Brown A, Houston T, Meeks C, Vargas R, Franco I, Razzak AR, Brown AF. J. Gen. Intern Med. 2012; 27(2): 153-159.

Affiliation

American Heart Association/Pharmaceutical Roundtable-Spina Outcomes Research, Center at UCLA, 710 Westwood Plaza, C109 RNRC, Los Angeles, CA, USA, nbharmal@mednet.ucla.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s11606-011-1836-0

PMID

21910088

PMCID

PMC3270242

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Premature mortality and disparities in morbidity observed in African-American men may be associated with factors in their social, economic, and built environments that may be especially influential during the transition to adulthood. OBJECTIVE: To have young, African-American men from Los Angeles County identify and prioritize factors associated with their transition to manhood using photovoice methodology and pile-sorting exercises. DESIGN: Qualitative study using community-based participatory research (CBPR) and photovoice PARTICIPANTS: Twelve African-American men, ages 16-26 years, from Los Angeles County, California. APPROACH: We used CBPR principles to form a community advisory board (CAB) whose members defined goals for the partnered project, developed the protocols, and participated in data collection and analysis. Participants were given digital cameras to take 50-300 photographs over three months. Pile-sorting techniques were used to facilitate participants' identification and discussion of the themes in their photos and selected photos of the group. Pile-sorts of group photographs were analyzed using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis to systematically compare participants' themes and identify patterns of associations between sorted photographs. Sub-themes and related quotes were also elicited from the pile-sorting transcripts. The CAB and several study participants met periodically to develop dissemination strategies and design interventions informed by study findings. KEY RESULTS: Four dominant themes emerged during analysis: 1) Struggles face during the transition to manhood, 2) Sources of social support, 3) Role of sports, and 4) Views on Los Angeles lifestyle. The project led to the formation of a young men's group and community events featuring participants. CONCLUSIONS: CBPR and photovoice are effective methods to engage young, African-American men to identify and discuss factors affecting their transition to manhood, contextualize research findings, and participate in intervention development.

Language: en