Entertainment–Education? A Fotonovela? A New Strategy to Improve Depression Literacy and Help‐Seeking Behaviors in At‐Risk Immigrant Latinas

Abstract

Research shows high risk for depression among immigrant Latinas known to increase during the acculturation process. Several barriers such as stigma and low health literacy result in an under-utilization of needed treatment among these women. In response, this study replicated the effectiveness of a Spanish language fotonovela, a form of Entertainment-Education (E-E), designed to increase depression literacy, decrease stigma, and increase help-seeking knowledge and behavior in Latinos. Specifically, this study evaluated a fotonovela delivered in a multifaceted approach to health education used by promotoras. A pretest-posttest randomized control group experimental design with 142 immigrant Latinas at risk for depression was employed. Results indicate significant posttest improvements in depression knowledge, self-efficacy to identify the need for treatment, and decreased stigma in experimental as compared to control group participants. Findings support the application of E-E health literacy tools such as fotonovelas, delivered in multifaceted approaches to health education used by promotoras, to Latinas at risk for mental health concerns.

Qualitative Exploration of an Effective Depression Literacy Fotonovela with at Risk Latina Immigrants

“…All 75 at-risk Latina immigrants, who participated in the experimental group (Hernandez and Organista 2013), were invited to participate in structured qualitative interviews to explore their response to the depression literacy tool 3 weeks after exposure. With regard to recruitment of women into the quantitative randomized control study, the first author, with the assistance of promotoras, recruited participants from health education and parenting classes offered by a multiservice community clinic in the East Bay of San Francisco, as well as from 3 local Head Start programs where promotoras frequently recruited women for clinic classes (Hernandez and Organista 2013).…”

“…For a full description of Secret Feelings, see Cabassa et al (2012). In its previous evaluations, Unger et al (2012) as well as Hernandez and Organista (2013) found Secret Feelings to be highly effective in improving depression knowledge while reducing stigma towards depression treatment in samples of immigrant Latinos.…”

“…Hence, effectively intervening with Latina immigrants can address both primary and secondary prevention of depression. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore why the depression literacy fotonovela, Secret Feelings, was effective with at risk Latina immigrants as determined by a previously published quantitative randomized control study (Hernandez and Organista 2013). In that report, 75 immigrant Latinas were randomly assigned to the experimental fotonovela exposure group while 67 were assigned to an attention control group exposing them to a discussion of family communication and intergenerational relationships.…”

“…Results revealed a consistent pattern of improved depression literacy in the experimental versus control group: greater depression knowledge, self-efficacy to identify the need for treatment, reduced stigma towards depression treatment, including anti-depressant medication, and increased intention to seek treatment. For a full description of study methods please refer to Hernandez and Organista (2013).…”

Women, the "Other" of Football, Write Fotonovela, the "Other" of Photography

“…İngilizce alanyazında da fotonovela kullanımı yaygın olmakla birlikte photonovels ile eş anlamlı kullanılması da söz konusudur. (Cabrera, Morisky ve Chin, 2002), alzheimer (Valle vd., 2006) veya depresyon (Cabassa vd., 2011;Hernandez ve Organista, 2013) gibi hastalıkların önlenmesi ve tedavisi konulu fotoromanlar sıklıkla tercih edilirken; araştırma sonuçları katılımcıların hastalığa ilişkin bilgilerinin arttığını, fotoromanları başkalarıyla paylaştıklarını ve okumaktan keyif aldıklarını gösterir.…”