Abstract
Since 1990, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic in northern Vietnam has increased the number of orphaned children. Vietnam’s adult-led national response to addressing the needs of orphaned children has emphasized child protection, education, reproductive health, and HIV prevention. Limited research exists centering youth voices and input concerning current intervention strategies. Youth participatory action research (YPAR), including art-based approaches, seeks to amplify and empower youth in social change. This study uses YPAR with youth attending a program at HIV and Health Care Support Center (HHCSC) and aims to 1) better understand the lived experiences and conceptualizations of health equity by youth, 2) describe youth-identified risks to health and wellbeing, and 3) provide youth with tools to advocate, educate, and enact social change relative to their needs. Using arts-based research methods and critical conversations, we collected demographic and qualitative data from focus groups with adolescents. Forty-five adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 participated in summer camps in 2019 and 2023, which focused on art making/photovoice and the youth-identified topics of environmental risks, interpersonal violence, child abuse, substance misuse, HIV, child labor, reproductive health, and “Our City.” Focus groups and journaling identified macro-level concepts of importance for youth: corruption in the criminal legal system, difficulties with laws and enforcement, lack of child protection, and exploitation. Youth developed social change strategies, including community campaigns, vocational training, and using social media to promote change. Global art-advocacy exhibitions compiling youth art and narratives raised awareness for social action.
Presenters
Lesley HarrisStudent, PhD, University of Louisville, Kentucky, United States Sara Williams
Part-Time Faculty, Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, Kentucky, United States Doroty Sato
Student, PhD in Social Work, University of Louisville, Kentucky, United States Victory Osezua
Assistant Professor, Gwynedd Mercy University, United States Thang Nguyen Duy
Vice-Director, Operation, Community Based Care & Support Center for Health & HIV/AIDS (HHCSC), Hai Phong, thanh pho, Viet Nam Andrew Winters
Assistant Professor, Kent School of Social Work and Family Science , University of Louisville, Kentucky, United States Rebecka Bloomer
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Kyoungmee Byun
Associate Professor of Interior Design, School of Art + Design, Northern Arizona University, Arizona, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
Arts-based research, Vietnam, Photography, Photovoice, Art making, Recycled materials, HIV
