An Investigation Of Language And Cultural Barriers To Effective Communication Of Information On Cancer In Kenya

ABSTRACT

This study set out with three objectives. First was to establish whether the information on cancer was physically available to the Kenyan public. Secondly was to ascertain whether the public was able to linguistically access the information availed to them. Thirdly was to identify the kind of language and cultural challenges encountered during face-to-face communication between health practitioners and the public. The research was guided by Bachman and Palmer’s Communicative Language Ability model as well as Grice’s Theory of Conversational Implicature. Elements of both quantitative and qualitative design were incorporated into the study. First, library sources provided quantitative data on information on breast, cervical and prostate cancers that was availed to the public via mass media. Secondly, primary data was collected from the public in Kiambu and Nairobi counties using a questionnaire, comprehension tests and cloze tests. This data helped to ascertain whether the information on breast, cervical and prostate cancers was linguistically accessible to the public. Lastly, structured personal interviews were used to collect qualitative data on language and cultural challenges encountered during face-toface communication between conventional medical practitioners and the public. In order to establish how the variables of sex, age, level of education and linguistic codes of conveyance associated with linguistic accessibility, Pearson Correlation Coefficient index was computed. The research found that breast, cervical and prostate cancers were featured in more than half of the information available to the public. Of the three cancers, breast cancer received the widest coverage. Information on cancer management also received the widest coverage while the aspect of prevention was least covered. The newspaper and English language were most dominant medium and language of conveyance respectively. Considering linguistic accessibility, majority of the respondents were able to comprehend the information they read or listened. Higher education was strongly associated with comprehension of information in newspapers while English and higher education were strongly associated with greater understanding of information aired via television. The study recommends that originators of cancer information should avail more information on prevention since this information is associated with greater reduction of cancer incidence and mortality. They should also consider covering each of the BCP cancers separately in order to increase clarity of the information. Finally, trained medical interpreters should be availed in health facilities to help medical practitioners navigate the language and cultural challenges they encounter during face-to-face communication between them and the public.