Application of Information Design to Enhance Healthcare Provision for Nomadic Khanabadosh Community, Pakistan

Syeda Mehwish, Zara Zaidi (2017) Application of Information Design to Enhance Healthcare Provision for Nomadic Khanabadosh Community, Pakistan. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

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Abstract

This research aims to improve the healthcare status of the Khanabadosh nomads of Cholistan Desert, Pakistan. The language barrier along with cultural practices and constant moving patterns of Khanabadosh nomads have made it impossible to provide them with any healthcare infrastructure. Therefore, this research studies the visual vocabulary by observing and documenting the lifestyle, culture, arts, crafts and language of the Pastoral nomadic community Khanabadosh of Cholistan Desert, Pakistan. This research examines the application of information design to improve the health standards of nomadic pastoral communities by improving and simplifying the healthcare messages and instructions for pastoral nomads. In order to achieve this, information design is used for designing samples of instructional and informational materials. Hence, the objectives of this research are (1) to identify problems faced by healthcare personnel in providing healthcare to Khanabadosh community, (2) to examine the visual vocabulary and understanding of Khanabadosh community regarding existing healthcare system and design, (3) to create samples of instructional and informational design material using infonnation design suitable for healthcare outreach services, that caters to Khanabadosh nomadic lifestyle and lastly (4) to validate the healthcare information design prototype on identified group of Khanabadosh community. This research employs empirical research methods. The research methods used for the field research are field observations, discussions, open-ended interviews and semi structured interviews. These methods are carried out on selected group ofKhanabadosh of Cholistan Desert, Pakistan, healthcare personnel and non-government organisations. Information design is applied on healthcare informational materials, which serves as tool for healthcare personnel to use when educating or informing the Khanabadosh community about the vanous diseases, treatments, dosage and instructions for medication. The information design samples also act as suitable visual vocabularies to assist the community to have a better understanding of their health and medical needs in the absence ofa medical representative or a clinic or hospital nearby. The results showed that the Khanabadosh community understood the information when the design samples were given to them by using their visual vocabulary. The Khanabanosh nomads were able to decipher information given in visual form because it used the images, which matched with their visual vocabulary and lifestyle. The outcome of this research will provide a cost effective and efficient information design solution for outreach healthcare services. It is hoped that this research will improve the effectiveness of existing outreach healthcare programmes to save lives, prevent illnesses and educate the nomadic community on healthcare.

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