Visualizing Perceived Enablers of and Barriers to Healthy Eating by Youth in Rural El Salvador.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the perceived environmental enablers for and barriers to healthy eating among rural Salvadoran youth.

METHODS: A photovoice activity was implemented at a grade school located in a rural region of northeastern El Salvador.

RESULTS: Nine female and 8 male youth aged 8-12 years participated. A total of 116 photos were generated for thematic analysis. Photos and descriptions from youth revealed an overall theme of ambiguity in healthy eating across multiple environments. This theme of ambiguity was interwoven throughout 2 subthemes: (1) links between food and health, and (2) the juxtaposition of globalized foodscapes and natural resources.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Photos and descriptions from youth illustrated the murky distinctions between healthful and less healthful foods embedded within daily encounters across multiple environments. To further an understanding of factors that promote or hinder healthy eating in youth, future research might incorporate methods that capture the ways in which youth conceptualize healthy eating, as well as their contributions to healthy eating.