The use of a modified version of Photovoice to identify maternal dietary consumption enablers and barriers in northern Bangladesh’, IJFNPH, Vol. 8, No. 1, 20162
Briony Stevens; Alan Clough; Jenni Judd, James Cook University, Australia
Julie Brimbecombe, Menzies School of Health Research, Australia
Kerrianne Watt, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Purpose: To describe what maternal nutrition means to pregnant women living in rural areas of northern Bangladesh.
Design: Photovoice methodology was modified and used in two villages in northern Bangladesh between June and July 2012. Eight skilled community nutrition volunteers were trained participants (n = 10) on the use of a digital camera. Participants used digital cameras to record their individual views and experiences in relation to the research question “what does maternal nutrition mean to you?” Cameras were collected and pictures printed. The participants selected 98 photographs. The community nutrition volunteers led participants through an in-depth interview process where the photographs were used to evoke a narrative. Data were analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis.
Findings: Eight major themes emerged: everyday foods consumed during pregnancy; liked foods influence dietary consumption; household food production influences dietary consumption; household food production provides both sustenance and income; need for a cash income in a subsistence community; family structure influences dietary intake; understanding that ‘nutrition’ is important though not sure ‘why’ and support provided by non-governmental organisations.
Research implications: Findings highlight that maternal dietary consumption is influenced by social, cultural and economic factors. Community-based nutrition interventions require nutrition-specific and sensitive approaches to address the root causes of undernutrition.
Keywords: Nutrition/malnutrition; Pregnancy; Qualitative research; Asia; South/Southeast; Photography/photovoice
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Stevens, B., Clough, A., Brimbecombe, J., Watt, K. and Judd, J. (2016) ‘The Use of a Modified Version of Photovoice to Identify Maternal Dietary Consumption Enablers and Barriers in Northern Bangladesh’, Int. J. Food, Nutrition and Public Health, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp.1-19.
