Peningkatan Literasi Kesehatan tentang Leukemia melalui Kegiatan Penyuluhan pada Siswa SMP Negeri 9 Mataram

Abstract

Leukemia is one of the most common types of childhood cancer and can significantly affect quality of life if not detected early. Improving adolescents’ awareness through health education is essential to support early recognition of symptoms and timely care. This community service activity aimed to enhance students’ knowledge about leukemia through a school-based intervention. The activity was conducted among 34 seventh-grade students of SMP Negeri 9 Mataram. The intervention consisted of an interactive lecture and discussion supported by visual educational media. Evaluation was carried out using a pretest–posttest design with a structured knowledge questionnaire. The results demonstrated an increase in students’ knowledge scores after the educational intervention, although the improvement was not statistically significant and showed a small effect size. Descriptively, there was an improvement in understanding, particularly regarding early symptoms and the importance of early detection. In conclusion, this school-based intervention highlights the role of health education within community service programs in improving adolescents’ literacy regarding leukemia. Continuous and more interactive educational strategies are recommended to strengthen knowledge retention and long-term impact.