A children’s book – written by community, for community – has been launched in Western Australia’s south-west to help children and families understand more about one of the most common inflammatory skin conditions in children.
Kaal Tackles Eczema was developed by the Koolungar Moorditj Healthy Skin Project at The Kids Research Institute Australia after research identified nearly 20 per cent of Aboriginal children living in urban areas have eczema.
Eczema is the most common inflammatory skin condition affecting children globally and prevalence is rising, particularly in urban settings.
In partnership with Aboriginal Elders, community members, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOS), the Koolungar (children) Moorditj (strong) Healthy Skin project is the first ever co-designed research-service Australian study to describe skin health in urban-living Aboriginal children.
Project Dermatologist Dr Bernadette Ricciardo said the study had shed light on the skin health needs of these children, leading to better services and treatment recommendations, and highlighting the need for evidence-based health promotion materials to help families recognise and manage eczema.
“Nearly half the children with current eczema in our research described severe symptoms, indicating they were waking up at night due to itch one or more times per week over the past 12 months,” Dr Ricciardo said.
“The study also indicated there was room for improvement when it came to the cornerstones of eczema management – avoiding triggers, regular use of soap-free wash and moisturiser, and correct application of topical steroids for eczema flares.
“Our project partnered with the community to ensure the evidence-based resources developed are those that are most needed – in this case a storybook that aims to reduce the incidence of bacterial skin infections through skin scratching associated with eczema.”
Kaal Tackles Eczema was made possible thanks to funding from the Channel 7 Telethon Trust and a WA Future Health Research Innovation Fund Research Excellence Award won by the project’s Chief Investigator, Clinical Professor Asha Bowen.
It is the first in a series of health promotion storybooks, with future storybooks looking at skin health to be funded by a 2023 Consumer-Led Research grant from the Commonwealth Medical Research Future Fund, announced last week by Federal Health Minister Mark Butler MP. The grant will also fund a robust evaluation of the impacts and effectiveness of Kaal Tackles Eczema as an effective health promotion method.
Clinical Professor Bowen said the eczema storybook drew on vital knowledge provided by the project’s Community Advisory Group members to help children and their families better manage eczema.
“After learning about how common eczema is for Aboriginal kids, and that there are few targeted health promotion resources to help parents and kids understand eczema, the Community Advisory Group members prioritised this topic,” Clinical Professor Bowen said.
“In the urban setting, it appears eczema affects just as many Aboriginal as non-Aboriginal kids, so this is a great opportunity to share the knowledge of our team and the Community Advisory Group members working together to produce a storybook.”
Community Advisory Group member Sally Smith co-authored the storybook, which features local Noongar language and focuses on courage, resilience, and strong families. In the book, main character Kaal encourages children to speak to an adult about their skin and reminds parents to seek medical advice.
“We hope this eczema book will help kids and their families feel more knowledgeable, confident and successful in recognising and managing eczema,” Ms Smith said.
Kaal Tackles Eczema was co-authored by Annette Garlett, Dr Bernadette Ricciardo, Delys Walton, Joanne Hill, Kristy Jetta and Sally Smith. It was illustrated by artist Tyrown Waigana, with graphic design by Kelli Savietto. The storybook will be distributed to various schools, childcare centres, and healthcare settings over the coming months.
Kaal Tackles Eczema can be downloaded from The Kids Research Institute Australia website where there is also an audio narration of the book, along with other strengths-based resources for children and families.
telethonkids.org.au/healthyskinbooks
About eczema
Eczema causes a rough, red, itchy rash on the skin, often starting in the first months of life and recurs regularly without treatment. Eczema is the most common inflammatory skin condition affecting children globally and the prevalence is rising, particularly in urban settings. Eczema and bacterial skin infections are intertwined, in that poorly managed eczema predisposes to recurrent skin infections; while secondary infection of eczema contributes to more severe disease. Eczema is well known to impact on the general health, sleep and school performance of affected children, as well as negatively impacting quality of life of the child and their family.