DigitalCommons@Linfield

Communication, Contraception and Culture: A Semiotic Analysis of Educational Materials for Latinas

Jereld R. Nicholson Library

Unintended pregnancy is a major problem in the United States, especially for some minority populations. Latina women have higher birth rates and lower use of contraception than the general population. The health care system should support Latinas in meeting their health and family planning needs. Cultural differences require taking into account social values and the communication needs and patterns of Latinas, including high-quality pamphlets, posters, and other materials. This study uses semiotics to examine four written pamphlets promoting contraception in the Spanish language. The primary research question is: To what extent do pregnancy prevention educational materials for Latina women take into account their culture and their communication style? The analysis shows that in general these pamphlets did not appear to be especially effective for the Latina community. They all use too many words, too many key points, hard-to-understand language, and they do not tell an easy-to-follow story.