An image-based reproductive health curriculum
I illustrated over 100 story-based visuals to make a nonprofit’s reproductive health curriculum more accessible for non-literate mothers in 130+ villages around Jinja, Uganda. I collaborated with Ugandan medical professionals throughout the process to ensure medical accuracy and cultural relevance.
Challenge
The number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 (W.H.O.).
Every day, 830 mothers die due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and 70% of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. CCI, a nonprofit based in Jinja, Uganda, created a reproductive health curriculum to raise community awareness for maternal care. To reach non-literate people, CCI needed a design strategy to translate its text into educational images.
Research
For the program to be successful, it was essential to collaborate with the community using the designs. From a literature review and communication with CCI’s team in Jinja, 3 criteria from the images emerged:
1. Visually legible
Straightforward images so non-literate users wouldn’t need to rely on text. High-contrast line art for the office’s B&W printer.
2. Medically accurate
In line with CCI’s mission to raise awareness of the Three-Delay Model of Maternal Mortality: Recognizing the need for care, being able to reach a health facility, and receiving appropriate care from that health facility.
3. Culturally relevant
Story-based images that community members in the villages around Jinja, Uganda can see their daily lives reflected in. Achieved through partnership and cyclical feedback from local community members.
Community Feedback
I collaborated with CCI Co-Founder Mukalu Mohammed and Director of Research Solomon Wani from their Jinja, Uganda office. They provided reference images and guidance for my first draft drawings, then screened the drawings with local families for feedback.
Deliverables
100+ story-based illustrations. Literate individuals were trained on the curriculum at CCI’s Jinja office, then taught and distributed it to non-literate community members in the surrounding villages.
Below is an abridged story I illustrated for a chapter on Danger Signs & High-Risk Pregnancy.
Impact
The curriculum was distributed to 1,000+ pregnant families in 130+ villages around Jinja, Uganda to positive community feedback on the drawings’ visual clarity and relevance to their lives. The curriculum also helped raise $200,000+ in grants for continued research, including the creation of a new obstetric emergency driver service in the region.
