Health communication in campaigns to prevent human leptospirosis in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil

Abstract

Health communication actions in campaigns to prevent leptospirosis in Maceió are discussed. The method consisted of a multimodal analysis of five posters, two folders and one pamphlet used in leptospirosis campaigns between 1996 and 2017 and a content analysis of two interviews with users who were affected by the disease. Results show that: the original purpose of the materials alters its discursive effect but in terms of main visual effects it focuses mainly on the rat; campaigns use a unilateral, directive and potentially low impact communication model, confirming previous findings; there is a lack of correspondence between the proposed actions and the living conditions of the users. Based on these results, we discuss how responsibility for prevention is attributed mainly to the population in a vulnerability situation, exempting the State from actions that foster dialogue, and its potential psychosocial implications.