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Replacing Text with Pictures for Multi-Lingual Health Education: Meeting the Needs of a Community with Low Literacy in Tanzania

Author

Listed:
  • Jeremy C. Barrett

    (Curtin School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Perth, WA 6102, Australia)

  • Jaya A. R. Dantas

    (Curtin School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Perth, WA 6102, Australia)

Abstract

Rural and remote communities often face significant challenges maintaining their health and well-being. In developing countries, these challenges are further compounded by (1) limited access to clean water, (2) ineffective sanitation, (3) low education and literacy levels and (4) low awareness of the role of personal hygiene practices in reducing communicable disease transmission. Existing health education materials distributed within such communities are often presented in a traditional written format, making them inaccessible to people with low literacy levels. Therefore, recent evidence supports an alternative health communication approach through the use of picture-based materials. This study has assessed the effectiveness of a cartoon-based pictorial educational tool (CBPET) in communicating key messages about hygiene and bacteria contained within the environment and bodily fluids. The CBPET that was developed was tested in a Tanzanian village, representative of a community with low literacy and a resource-poor setting. The CBPET was found to effectively deliver key health promotion messages to the local community. Developing healthcare education in a universal language format based on pictures or cartoons could be the way forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeremy C. Barrett & Jaya A. R. Dantas, 2025. "Replacing Text with Pictures for Multi-Lingual Health Education: Meeting the Needs of a Community with Low Literacy in Tanzania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(4), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:4:p:516-:d:1622971
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Khalid M. Khan & Rishika Chakraborty & Stephen Brown & Rasheda Sultana & Alec Colon & Devinder Toor & Pooja Upreti & Banalata Sen, 2021. "Association between Handwashing Behavior and Infectious Diseases among Low-Income Community Children in Urban New Delhi, India: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Fahad Riaz Choudhry & Long Chiau Ming & Khadeeja Munawar & Syed Tabish R. Zaidi & Rahul P. Patel & Tahir Mehmood Khan & Shandell Elmer, 2019. "Health Literacy Studies Conducted in Australia: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-32, March.
    3. Natalie Bennion & Generose Mulokozi & Emily Allen & Margaret Fullmer & Gwen Kleinhenz & Kirk Dearden & Mary Linehan & Scott Torres & Joshua West & Benjamin Crookston & Cougar Hall, 2021. "Association between WASH-Related Behaviors and Knowledge with Childhood Diarrhea in Tanzania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-11, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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