ecancermedicalscience

Short Communication

Practical insights from implementing a school-based breast cancer awareness program in a rural Nigerian community

15 Jul 2026
Ridwanullah Abdullateef

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women globally and is a growing public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, where late presentation and limited screening infrastructure contribute to poor outcomes. In this commentary, we share practical lessons learned from designing and implementing a school-based breast cancer awareness program in rural Nigeria, targeted at in-school adolescent girls. Our intervention, which combined teaching sessions with pre- and post-intervention assessments, significantly improved breast cancer knowledge and attitudes. Key insights include the importance of tailoring program content and data collection tools to the literacy level of participants, incorporating culturally sensitive approaches such as female educators and accounting for logistical challenges such as school scheduling and unexpected costs. These lessons highlight the potential of school-based programs as cost-effective, sustainable platforms for early health education in low-resource settings. We argue that integrating breast health education into school curricula, supported by multisectoral partnerships, can contribute to improved cancer prevention and early detection practices among young populations.

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