MULTIMODAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF SELECTED FLYERS ON CHILDREN-RELATED DISEASES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study focused on the multimodal discourse analysis of selected public health flyers on children-related diseases in Nigeria. It investigated how various semiotic modes are utilised and integrated to communicate health information effectively. While previous studies on health communication in Nigeria have focused primarily on textual analysis or verbal discourse, there remains a significant gap in the exploration of how multimodal strategies function in public health messaging, particularly concerning child-related diseases. This research filled that gap by providing an in-depth analysis of 5 purposively selected flyers targeting five major diseases affecting children: malaria, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, diarrhoea, and measles. This study is grounded in Holaran's framework of Multimodal Discourse Analysis, which focuses on how different modes are integrated to enhance. Different modes in each of the flyers were identified and analysed. Findings revealed that the selected flyers strategically integrate multiple modes to enhance message clarity, emotional appeal, and audience engagement. The study concluded that multimodal discourse is a powerful and necessary approach in the design of effective health communication materials.