From barriers to solutions developing a participatory visual health communication framework for urban informal settlements

Abstract

Background: In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the role health communication plays in improving health outcomes within marginalized populations. Visual tools offer a powerful avenue to communicate critical health information, particularly among communities with low literacy levels. Problem: In Nairobi’s Kibera informal settlement, women are primary caregivers and crucial agents in managing family health. Yet they face challenges in accessing and understanding health information due to literacy limitations, cultural mismatches, and the dominance of English text-heavy materials. Objective: This study investigates the barriers women in Kibera informal settlement face in understanding health messages and proposes a participatory framework for designing culturally relevant, user-centered visual health communication tools. Design: Using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach and Human Centered Design (HCD) methodology. Subjects: This research engaged women, community health workers (CHWs), and other stakeholders in co-designing effective communication materials. Setting: The research was conducted in Kibera slums found in Nairobi County. Findings: The study findings highlight the limitations of current health communication strategies and present the Participatory Visual Health Communication Framework (PVHCF) as a solution. This framework emphasizes community-driven co-design, visual literacy optimization, dual language integration, simplification of medical jargon, iterative prototyping, and cultural anchoring.