Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and late diagnosis contributes significantly to mortality in the low-resource settings. In urban slums, lack of awareness, poor health-seeking behavior, and barriers to screening further delay detection. Community Health Workers (CHWs) serve as vital links in health education and referral, but their knowledge and skills are often limited. Strengthening their capacity through structured educational interventions may improve the awareness and early detection at the community level. Aim: (1) To assess the baseline awareness regarding breast cancer and its screening, particularly Breast Self-examination, among CHWs. (2) To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving their knowledge. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among CHWs in an urban slum. A modified version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure was used to assess the knowledge of signs, symptoms, risk factors, and barriers related to breast cancer. A structured educational intervention was delivered, followed by immediate posttest and a follow-up test at 15 days. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software and presented through descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: At baseline, CHWs had a median knowledge score of 51, which improved to 76 immediately after intervention and was sustained at follow-up after 15 days, indicating significant retention of knowledge. Conclusion: Structured educational programs significantly improve and sustain breast cancer awareness among CHWs in urban slums. Regular training sessions should be institutionalized to empower CHWs, thereby facilitating the early detection and reducing breast cancer burden in underserved communities.
Kazi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.