IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i9p5656-d1134120.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/9/5656/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/9/5656/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Susan Elliott & Jessica McClure, 2009. "“There's just hope that no one's health is at risk”: residents' reappraisal of a landfill siting," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(2), pages 237-255.
    2. Kathryn M. Cardarelli & Marcy Paul & Beverly May & Madeline Dunfee & Steven Browning & Nancy Schoenberg, 2019. "“Youth Are More Aware and Intelligent than Imagined”: The Mountain Air Youth Photovoice Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-13, October.
    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.
    4. Samuel J. Spiegel & Sarah Thomas & Kevin O’Neill & Cassandra Brondgeest & Jen Thomas & Jiovanni Beltran & Terena Hunt & Annalee Yassi, 2020. "Visual Storytelling, Intergenerational Environmental Justice and Indigenous Sovereignty: Exploring Images and Stories amid a Contested Oil Pipeline Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Wing, S. & Horton, R.A. & Muhammad, N. & Grant, G.R. & Tajik, M. & Thu, K., 2008. "Integrating epidemiology, education, and organizing for environmental justice: Community health effects of industrial hog operations," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(8), pages 1390-1397.
    6. Prince O. Njoku & Joshua N. Edokpayi & John O. Odiyo, 2019. "Health and Environmental Risks of Residents Living Close to a Landfill: A Case Study of Thohoyandou Landfill, Limpopo Province, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-27, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Erin Lebow-Skelley & Sarah Yelton & Brandi Janssen & Esther Erdei & Melanie A. Pearson, 2020. "Identifying Issues and Priorities in Reporting Back Environmental Health Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Diana Rohlman & Jamie Donatuto & Myk Heidt & Michael Barton & Larry Campbell & Kim A. Anderson & Molly L. Kile, 2019. "A Case Study Describing a Community-Engaged Approach for Evaluating Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure in a Native American Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Prince Obinna Njoku & Stuart Piketh & Rachel Makungo & Joshua Nosa Edokpayi, 2023. "Monitoring of Subsurface Emissions and the Influence of Meteorological Factors on Landfill Gas Emissions: A Case Study of a South African Landfill," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-24, March.
    4. Andrew Kliskey & Paula Williams & David L. Griffith & Virginia H. Dale & Chelsea Schelly & Anna-Maria Marshall & Valoree S. Gagnon & Weston M. Eaton & Kristin Floress, 2021. "Thinking Big and Thinking Small: A Conceptual Framework for Best Practices in Community and Stakeholder Engagement in Food, Energy, and Water Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    5. Jessica B. Lewis & Sonya S. Brady & Siobhan Sutcliffe & Ariana L. Smith & Elizabeth R. Mueller & Kyle Rudser & Alayne D. Markland & Ann Stapleton & Sheila Gahagan & Shayna D. Cunningham & Prevention o, 2020. "Converging on Bladder Health through Design Thinking: From an Ecology of Influence to a Focused Set of Research Questions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-17, June.
    6. Gabriella Esposito De Vita & Cristina Visconti & Gantuya Ganbat & Marina Rigillo, 2023. "A Collaborative Approach for Triggering Environmental Awareness: The 3Rs for Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Ulaanbaatar (3R4UB)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-24, September.
    7. Guta, Adrian & Strike, Carol & Flicker, Sarah & J. Murray, Stuart & Upshur, Ross & Myers, Ted, 2014. "Governing through community-based research: Lessons from the Canadian HIV research sector," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 250-261.
    8. Tanzila Akmal & Faisal Jamil, 2021. "Testing the Role of Waste Management and Environmental Quality on Health Indicators Using Structural Equation Modeling in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
    9. Garett Sansom & Philip Berke & Thomas McDonald & Eva Shipp & Jennifer Horney, 2016. "Confirming the Environmental Concerns of Community Members Utilizing Participatory-Based Research in the Houston Neighborhood of Manchester," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, August.
    10. Einara Blanco Machin & Daniel Travieso Pedroso & Daviel Gómez Acosta & Maria Isabel Silva dos Santos & Felipe Solferini de Carvalho & Adrian Blanco Machín & Matías Abner Neira Ortíz & Reinaldo Sánchez, 2022. "Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Energetic Valorization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-17, November.
    11. Dave, Gaurav & Frerichs, Leah & Jones, Jennifer & Kim, Mimi & Schaal, Jennifer & Vassar, Stefanie & Varma, Deepthi & Striley, Catherine & Ruktanonchai, Corrine & Black, Adina & Hankins, Jennifer & Lov, 2018. "Conceptualizing trust in community-academic research partnerships using concept mapping approach: A multi-CTSA study," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 70-78.
    12. Mary A. Fox & L. Elizabeth Brewer & Lawrence Martin, 2017. "An Overview of Literature Topics Related to Current Concepts, Methods, Tools, and Applications for Cumulative Risk Assessment (2007–2016)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-28, April.
    13. Dana H. Z. Williamson, 2022. "Using the Community Engagement Framework to Understand and Assess EJ-Related Research Efforts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-26, February.
    14. Orly Stampfer & Gillian Mittelstaedt & Victoria Breckwich Vásquez & Catherine J. Karr, 2019. "Guidance for Genuine Collaboration: Insights from Academic, Tribal, and Community Partner Interviews on a New Research Partnership," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-14, December.
    15. Dana H. Z. Williamson & Emma X. Yu & Candis M. Hunter & John A. Kaufman & Kelli Komro & Na’Taki Osborne Jelks & Dayna A. Johnson & Matthew O. Gribble & Michelle C. Kegler, 2020. "A Scoping Review of Capacity-Building Efforts to Address Environmental Justice Concerns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-23, May.
    16. Vaughn, Lisa M. & Jones, Jennifer R. & Booth, Emily & Burke, Jessica G., 2017. "Concept mapping methodology and community-engaged research: A perfect pairing," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 229-237.
    17. Arifa sulthana & A. Muni Kumari & Lankala Ravindranath Reddy & Maddigalla Chandra sekhar & S. Babulla, 2024. "Kadapa Municipal Corporation Door To Door Garbage Collection And Solid Waste Management System: A Survey On Its Implementation, Importance And Effectiveness," International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research, Malwa International Journals Publication, vol. 10(03), June.
    18. Wadley, David A. & Han, Jung Hoon & Elliott, Peter G., 2019. "Risk hidden in plain sight: Explaining homeowner perceptions of electricity transmission infrastructure," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 744-753.
    19. Ana Maria Carmen Ilie & Norma McCarthy & Leslie Velasquez & Masoom Moitra & Holger Michael Eisl, 2022. "Air pollution exposure assessment at schools and playgrounds in Williamsburg Brooklyn NYC, with a view to developing a set of policy solutions," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 12(4), pages 838-852, December.
    20. Jarrett E K Byrnes & Jai Ranganathan & Barbara L E Walker & Zen Faulkes, 2014. "To Crowdfund Research, Scientists Must Build an Audience for Their Work," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(12), pages 1-29, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:9:p:5656-:d:1134120. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.