Designing an Illustrated Storybook as an Educational Medium about Worm Disease for Children

Abstract

Worm infections remain a common health problem in Indonesia, especially in children, with a prevalence of 45–65%. The lack of appropriate educational media for children makes picture books a potential alternative visual communication medium for conveying health information. This study aims to design a picture book as an educational medium about worms for children aged 4–8 years. The method used refers to the design approach of Eric Karjaluoto, which includes the stages of discovery, planning, creativity, and application. Data were collected through field observations, interviews, documentation, and literature studies in the West Jakarta area. The design results in a book entitled "Aku Bebas Cacingan" (I'm Worm-Free), consisting of 24 pages with a combination of text and soft-colored illustrations, featuring educational narratives, children's characters, and child-friendly visual elements. This book contains information about the causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of worms in the form of an easy-to-understand story. In conclusion, this picture book has the potential to be an effective educational medium in raising awareness among children and parents about the importance of maintaining cleanliness to prevent worms.