Adolescents exploring their food environments in Atiu
Roberts N1, Tairi S1, Bay JL2,3, Taurarii J4, Trask SA2
1. Enuamanu School, Atiu, Cook Islands; 2. Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand; 3. Koi Tū, Centre for Informed Futures, University of Auckland, New Zealand; 4. Cook Islands Ministry of Education, Cook Islands.
Adolescence is a critical developmental stage (10-18 years) during which health attitudes and behaviours are formed that can track into adulthood. Teachers have a key role in facilitating health promotion during adolescence via school-based learning opportunities that focus on lifelong health to influence and establish health behaviours. This case study describes the use of photovoice as a strategy to support adolescents from Enuamanu school (aged 11-14 years) to explore their food environments and how these influence the food they are able to access and consume. Photovoice involves students assessing images they have taken to represent specific themes of study. Co-design inclusive of education and health expertise ensured integration of core curriculum objectives into learning materials. Teachers reported that students shared stories from their own perspectives about the impact of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes on their families in ways that had not happened before. This sharing opened discussions about the consequences of living with NCDs and the actions that are needed to promote healthy futures. Teachers noted improved student awareness of the influences of different food environments on food choices. They provided examples of students transferring their learning about food choices to contexts outside of school. The learning also stimulated the interest of parents who requested further learning. This study has established learning resources that will be shared across all Cook Island schools as part of the Ministry of Education’s approach to the integration of health promotion into learning via the Pacific Science for Health Literacy Project.
Roberts, N., Tairi, S., Bay, J.L., Taurarii, J., & Trask, S.A. (2023). Adolescents exploring their food environments in Atiu. Cook Islands Pasifika Medical Association Conference, Rarotonga, Cook Islands.