Mark Padilla1, Armando Matiz-Reyes2, José Félix Colón-Burgos2,3, Nelson Varas-Díaz1, John Vertovec1. 1. a Global and Sociocultural Studies , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA. 2. b Latin American and Caribbean Center , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA. 3. c Social Determinants of Health, Graduate School of Public Health , University of Puerto Rico , San Juan , Puerto Rico.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Like other epidemics, the current heroin epidemic in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is a largely invisible and devastating social problem linked to numerous structural and social determinants of health. METHODS: In this article, we connect a community-based participatory research methodology - "PhotoVoice" - with the theoretical orientation of critical medical anthropology to identify local interpretations of complex social and structural factors that are most salient to the well-being of local Dominican populations affected by drug addiction. RESULTS: Specifically, we describe Proyecto Lentes (Lens Project), a PhotoVoice initiative launched in 2014, which brought together active drug users to visually unveil and critically analyze the micro- and macro-factors shaping the marginalized and stigmatized drug addiction epidemic in Santo Domingo. CONCLUSIONS: While the synthesis of PhotoVoice and critical medical anthropology provides a powerful political analysis tool, this fusion is particularly apt in its ability to capture the "invisible voices" of marginalized communities, potentially contributing to future policy reform and social empowerment.
BACKGROUND: Like other epidemics, the current heroin epidemic in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is a largely invisible and devastating social problem linked to numerous structural and social determinants of health. METHODS: In this article, we connect a community-based participatory research methodology - "PhotoVoice" - with the theoretical orientation of critical medical anthropology to identify local interpretations of complex social and structural factors that are most salient to the well-being of local Dominican populations affected by drug addiction. RESULTS: Specifically, we describe Proyecto Lentes (Lens Project), a PhotoVoice initiative launched in 2014, which brought together active drug users to visually unveil and critically analyze the micro- and macro-factors shaping the marginalized and stigmatized drug addiction epidemic in Santo Domingo. CONCLUSIONS: While the synthesis of PhotoVoice and critical medical anthropology provides a powerful political analysis tool, this fusion is particularly apt in its ability to capture the "invisible voices" of marginalized communities, potentially contributing to future policy reform and social empowerment.
Entities:
Keywords:
Dominican Republic; PhotoVoice; critical medical anthropology; drug policy reform; injecting drug users
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