Bridging Educational Divides

This article examines how contraceptive campaign posters are designed to reach young women with varying educational backgrounds in Nyalenda B, an informal settlement in Kisumu County, Kenya. Using Visual Semiotic Approach theory as an interpretive framework, the study looks at how poster image, language and symbolic cues communicate differently to audiences with unequal literacy levels. Drawing on qualitative data from focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and poster observation, the findings show that while simplified visuals and localized language enhance comprehension among less-educated young women, highly educated women demand factual depth and socio-cultural relevance. Posters that blend emotional appeal with concise, credible information achieve wider resonance. The paper concludes that participatory and context-sensitive design is essential for equitable reproductive health communication in diverse urban communities.