Bender Deborah E, Santander Ana, Patiño Wilson, Wasserman Melanie R
Department of Health Policy and Administration and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7411, USA. Deborah
Health Care Women Int. 2008 May;29(5):484-506. doi: 10.1080/07399330801949582.
Surveys are sometimes used to assess women's perceptions of the quality of reproductive health care, but less empowered women may feel uncomfortable expressing their views in this method. We demonstrate the use of a participatory approach, combining a standard survey with an innovative photonarrative method. Women in Cochabamba, Bolivia, were asked to participate in exit surveys (n = 108). A subsample did photonarratives (n = 20). The survey showed rural women had less access to care, but photonarratives revealed the cause - fear. Women asserted quality of care was high, but photonarratives contradicted survey results. Staff used photonarratives to select action items for quality improvement.
