Speaking Health through Culture: Designing Afrikan Symbols as Metaphors for Maternal Health Communication

Abstract

Across Afrika, cultural identity is expressed through symbols and objects that carry shared meanings within communities. These symbols, deeply rooted in tradition, have historically served as visual metaphors that simplify complex ideas and foster collective understanding. In countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, symbols continue to provide a cultural language through which values and knowledge are communicated. This study examines how such cultural symbols can be harnessed to support maternal health communication in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on Good Health and Well-being and SDG 5 on Gender Equality. Focusing on underserved mothers in Grabouw, Western Cape, South Africa, the research engaged community caregivers in a participatory design process to explore the potential of Afrikan symbols as metaphors for health education. Through inductive, design methods, caregivers co-created low-fidelity prototypes that translated health-related concepts into culturally resonant visual forms. Findings demonstrate that cultural symbols offer meaningful entry points for maternal health communication, enabling mothers to connect health information with familiar cultural references. This not only improves comprehension but also empowers women to make informed decisions for their own well-being and that of their children. The study contributes to both design and health communication scholarship by showing how integrating cultural heritage into maternal health strategies can advance equity in resource-constrained contexts. It recommends further exploration of symbol-based communication tools as culturally grounded design interventions that align with the global agenda of reducing maternal mortality and promoting gender equality.