Photovoice to Co-create Intervention Content for Transgender Women’s Empowerment in Vietnam

Abstract Book of the 5th International Conference on LGBT studies

Year: 2026

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Photovoice to Co-create Intervention Content for Transgender Women's Empowerment in Vietnam

Chunqing Lin, Sherry Larkins, Cathy Reback, Phuong Tran, Nguyen Nhu Trang Nguyen, Hoang Nguyen Danh, My-Tien Nguyen-Thi, Do Van Dung

ABSTRACT:

Introduction: Transgender women (TW) in Vietnam face disproportionate risks for HIV and other adverse health conditions due to stigma, discrimination, and structural barriers. Photovoice is an innovative strategy that can elevate community voices and co-create intervention content.

Methods: Partnering with two major LGBTQ-serving community-based organizations serving TW in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, TW representatives were invited to participate in the Photovoice activity. The representatives received training in photography techniques and ethical practices concerning privacy/safety protection. Then they spent two months photographing and writing personal narratives that reflected their lived experiences, health challenges, sources of resilience, and visions for empowerment.

Results: Approximately 60 photos/narratives were collected to represent the lives of TW in HCMC and, most importantly, to illuminate their journeys to self-esteem, strength, authenticity, and resilience. The photos and narratives illustrated how TW found meaning and purpose through serving as peer counselors sharing HIV testing, prevention, and treatment information; and striving to remain engaged in care while navigating complex legal/social systems. They also documented strategies for coping with stigma and building resilience, pursuing education and career advancement, supporting one another, and seeking family understanding and connection.

Conclusion: Photovoice is a powerful approach for generating community-owned intervention content. By centering TW’s stories, the photos/narratives conveyed unwavering messages of resilience, mutual support, and the pursuit of a life with health and authenticity. These materials will be incorporated into group interventions and disseminated as booklets to promote self-esteem, service engagement, social support, and overall well-being within the TW communities in HCMC.

Keywords: Transgender Women; Photovoice; Co-Creation; Vietnam