Qualitative Health Research
January 2016; 26 (2)
http://qhr.sagepub.com/content/current

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Photovoice – Assessing the Long-Term Impact of a Disaster on a Community’s Quality of Life
Lucy Annang1, Sacoby Wilson2, Chiwoneso Tinago1, Louisiana Wright Sanders3, Tina Bevington3, Bethany Carlos4, Evangeline Cornelius5, Erik Svendsen6
1University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
2University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
3GRACE Study Center, Graniteville, South Carolina, USA
4Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
5PASOs, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
6Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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.