Photovoice Lessons from a Peruvian Program in Combatting Stigma for Caregivers of Children with Disabilities

**Published in Progress in Community Health Partnerships (PCHP) volume 16.4. All rights reserved.** ABSTRACT Background: Access to resources for children with disabilities and their caregivers are lacking worldwide, especially for low-middle income countries, especially those of Latin origin. Furthermore, decreased social visibility coupled with minimal support available for caregivers can negatively affect their overall mental wellbeing. Limited community-based participatory research (CBPR) has been done to understand the experiences of caregivers and identify effective measures of support. Objectives: To explore the impact of childhood disabilities on caregiver wellbeing and to assess how interactions between caregivers and their community affect their mental wellbeing. Methods: This study utilized photovoice and CBPR methodology. We recruited participants who had children enrolled in a rehabilitative program called Rehabilitation with Hope, located in Huancayo, Peru. Participants were given three photo assignments concerning their experiences as caregivers and they presented their photos at photo discussions after each assignment. We used thematic analysis to identify the main themes that arose from the discussions. Results: Four main themes were identified: stigma, social support, self-esteem, and effects of photovoice. Caregivers often felt stigmatized by the community due to their child’s disability. However, they found a stronger sense of social support and overall improved sense of self-esteem through the program and participation in photovoice. Conclusions: Results of this study suggest the effects of stigma on caregivers may be mitigated through enhanced social support and self-esteem. Additionally, photovoice is an effective tool to combat community stigma by allowing caregivers to share their narratives.