title: Photovoice: Assessing the Long-Term Impact of a Disaster on a Community's Quality of Life.
abstract: Photovoice is a qualitative method of inquiry whereby individuals can document their lived experiences, particularly individuals whose voices are not typically heard in regard to promoting social change and policy development. We used photovoice to elicit major themes regarding community members' perceptions of the long-term impact on their quality of life as a deadly technological disaster hit a small, rural town in South Carolina. Overall, participants photographed more negative images than positive. Overarching themes included residential and business vacancies, economic decline, the need for clean-up and modernization, attention to wellness or rehabilitation, and concerns for safety. Emergency response agencies should consider the themes elicited from these community residents to help identify where to focus disaster response efforts both in the immediate aftermath and during the long-term recovery period of technological disasters, particularly in underserved, rural communities.
authors: University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA Lannang@sc.edu.
authors: Lucy
authors: L
authors: Annang
authors: University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.
authors: Sacoby
authors: S
authors: Wilson
authors: University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors: Chiwoneso
authors: C
authors: Tinago
authors: GRACE Study Center, Graniteville, South Carolina, USA.
authors: Louisiana
authors: L
authors: Wright Sanders
authors: GRACE Study Center, Graniteville, South Carolina, USA.
authors: Tina
authors: T
authors: Bevington
authors: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors: Bethany
authors: B
authors: Carlos
authors: PASOs, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors: Evangeline
authors: E
authors: Cornelius
authors: Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Svendsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055884:Chemical Hazard Release; D002713:Chlorine / Q000009:adverse effects; D004190:Disasters; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D010781:Photography; D011634:Public Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D013022:South Carolina; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D002713:Chlorine
keywords: community and public health; photography / photovoice; quality of life; research, qualitative; research, rural