This presentation will emphasize the intersection between art and health, using the Photovoice project to reflect how art can be a modality for assessing barriers to health, health education, and empowering community members to advocate for health promotion. After receiving a small grant, a Master of Social Work student, Master of Public Health Student, a Somali interpreter, and a community health center came together to realize this alternative means of health literacy across the realms of art, social justice, interprofessional education and cultural competency.

1. Photovoice:
Assessing Barriers to
Health Among Maine’s
Somalian Refugee Women
Through Interprofessional
Collaboration
Lilia Bottino, MSW Student
Collyn Baeder, MPH Student
Kris Hall CEIPE Program Director
University of New England

2. Challenging Assumptions
“Anaa soo sawiray siligan sababta oo ah hadu
uu dhexen laha wadada iyo jid amaan bey u
ahaan lehed cayelka in ay ku cayaraan.”
“I took this picture of the fence because if a
fence built like this was in between the road
and the playground, it would be safer for the
children to play.”

3. Challenging Assumptions
“Meshan waa gurigeya gadshiisa
waana wasakh waxeyna u
bahantahay nadifin.”
“This is my backyard. It is dirty
and unhealthy. It needs to be
cleaned.”

4. • Portland, Maine is a major
resettlement area for refugee and
asylum-seeking individuals, who
according to the US Censes (2008-
2012), account for approximately
11.2% of the city’s population.
• This population faces major barriers-
language, housing, transportation,
and cultural barriers, along with a
host of other issues.
• There is a deficit in information
regarding health disparities among
African immigrants (Pavlish, Noor, &
Brandt, 2010), which can lead to
medical facilities and providers
lacking in cultural competence and
understanding in perceptions of
health.
11%

5. Interprofessional Collaboration
• Portland Community Health Center, University of
New England, & the Riverton Community
• IPEC Mini-Grant funding
• Interpretation & Cultural brokerage
Collaboration between UNE (Lily Bottino and Collyn Baeder), PCHP (Kira Maas), and
interpreter/cultural broker (Saharo Sharif-Isaack)

6. Themes Identified:
Exercise & Culture
“Aniga xijis baxsi waa uu ila ficanyahay
waxan jeclan lahaa meel an ku
xajisbasano.”
“To me, exercise is important. I would
like a place to exercise.”

7. Themes Identified:
Exercise & Weather
“Meshan waa jaranjarta gurigeyga tasoo an u
isticmalo xajis baxsi xiliga wabowga.”
“These are the stairs in my house. That is my place
to exercise when it’s cold out. But now since I’m not
feeling good it bothers me.”

8. Themes Identified:
Exercise & Weather
“Anaa qaaday sawirkan sababtoo ah
meeshaan waa meel aad u qurux badan
ku socod iyo nasasho.”
“This is a beautiful place to walk and
relax.”

9. Themes Identified:
Exercise
“Xiliga qabowga malaha meel lagu cajis baxsado waxaan
isticmali jirnay community room mar hore lakin hada ma
heysano way fiicnanlahed mar kale hadii aan helno
meshan/community room.”
“In the winter there is nowhere to exercise. We have used
the community room in the past, but it doesn’t happen
anymore. This may be a good place to use for exercise
again.”

10. Themes Identified:
Community Safety
“Sawirkan waxa weya wadada oo udhow
mesha ilmaha ku ciyaran marmar waxa dhacda
in ilmaha ay ku turan balontu wadada garigda
marayan markana ay ku ordan garida lawada
hostoda.”
“This is the street by the playground.
Sometimes when children are playing, they lose
a ball in the street while cars are driving by.”

11. Themes Identified:
Community Safety
“Qofbaa sigaar la istimalay ku dadshey jidka.
Waan soo sawiray sababto ah waa u qatar
cayalkeyga kuwaas oo is ku dayi kara in ay cunan
ama dhunqaan. wana cafimad ma aha.”
“Someone littered a pack of cigarettes on the
street. I took this picture because this is dangerous
for my children, who might try to eat them, or
even try to smoke them. That is unhealthy.”

12. Themes Identified:
Community Safety
“Portland Housing waa in ay nadifiyan guryaha
gadashoda ah mar wal waan nadifiya in u awod
helo.”
“Portland Housing Authority should clean this. I
usually clean as much as I can in my backyard.”

13. Themes Identified:
Autonomy
“Hadii aan lahan lahaa Dukan.
Waxaan isticmali lahaa qorxin aan
dadka ku soo jiito ama an kagado.”
“If I had my own store, I would use
decorations like this to attract
people.”

14. “Kan waa Dukan aan ku lahan jiray dalkeygi kaas
oo i xasuus galiyey. Malin maalmaha ka mid ah
waxaa laga yaabaa in an lahado Dunkan.”
“This is a multicultural store. I used to have a
store like this back home, and it reminds me of
this. One day I might have a store like this in the
future.”

15. The Outcomes
• 27 photos identifying
barriers/strengths in
accessing health exhibited
• In-depth discussion,
collaborative strategizing
• Strengthening
communication between the
Riverton Community, UNE,
and the Portland Community
Health Center
• Attention from the greater
Maine community

16. Interprofessional:
Learning about, from, and with each other

17. Interprofessional:
Learning about, from, and with each other
Applied Exercise Science
Athletic Training
Dental Hygiene
Dental Medicine
Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia
Occupational Therapy
Osteopathic Medicine
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Physician Assistant
Public Health
Social Work
Health and Wellness at the Cumberland County Jail

18. Interprofessional:
Learning about, from, and with each other
Applied Exercise Science
Athletic Training
Dental Hygiene
Dental Medicine
Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia
Occupational Therapy
Osteopathic Medicine
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Physician Assistant
Public Health
Social Work

19. Discussion and Questions
Thank you for your time.
Please feel free to share your thoughts and questions.