Through the Lens: Youth Experiences with Cancer in Rural Appalachian Kentucky Using Photovoice

Katie Gaines, Courtney Martin, Chris Prichard and Nathan L. Vanderford
Additional contact information
Katie Gaines: Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Courtney Martin: Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Chris Prichard: Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Nathan L. Vanderford: Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Rural Appalachian Kentucky experiences disproportionately high cancer incidence and mortality rates. This cancer burden is due to social determinants of health and cultural factors prominent in the region. The firsthand experiences of community members—especially young people—can highlight these factors and identify areas for improvement. The purpose of this study was to encourage Appalachian Kentucky youth to consider determinants of cancer and visualize the effects that cancer has on their families or communities by asking them to take photographs of cancer-related objects around them. Content analysis was performed on 238 photographs submitted by 25 students, and photographs were organized into themes, subthemes, and subtopics. The six themes that emerged were risk factors and exposures, marketing, awareness and support, health care, experiences, and metaphorical representations. Many of the submitted photographs aligned with cultural, environmental and/or situational factors prevalent in Appalachian Kentucky. Of the submitted photographs, 54 were displayed as an installment in two Kentucky art galleries. Viewer comments at the exhibitions demonstrated that young community members can educate and motivate change in those around them. Ultimately, this project demonstrates that young community members can recognize cancer-related issues around them and connect personal experiences back to the larger Appalachian Kentucky cancer disparity while also having an impact on other community members.

Keywords: Appalachia; rural; cancer; cancer disparities; youth; photovoice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/1/205/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/1/205/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:205-:d:711046

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().