UC Berkeley

This essay explores how the Getulio Vargas administration in Brazil utilized print media and visual imagery to convey public health messages and implement policy objectives during the Estado Novo period (1930-1945). Despite extensive research on Vargas' reforms, the role of visual communication in public health education remains understudied. This study examines the ways in which the government employed posters, catchy imagery, and concise messaging to reach diverse audiences and address epidemics such as yellow fever, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases. By analyzing the visual resources and strategies used to disseminate public health information, this research sheds light on the intersection of communication, education, and public health policy in 20th-century Brazil.