Abstract

Cancer remains a growing public health concern in South Africa, particularly in underserved communities where disparities in awareness and access to care contribute to delayed diagnosis. This study evaluated the impact of a culturally tailored educational intervention based on an adapted Cancer-Community Awareness Access Research and Education (c-CARE) module in Johannesburg and iLembe districts. A pilot study using a quasi-experimental pre–post design was conducted to assess changes in knowledge and attitudes among 210 traditional health practitioners, community health workers, and faith-based leaders. Structured surveys measured awareness of multiple myeloma, prostate, lung, breast, and cervical cancers. Data were captured in REDCap and analyzed using SPSS version 30. Significant improvements in knowledge were observed across all cancers. Awareness of lung cancer increased from 74.3% to 96.7%, multiple myeloma from 26.7% to 96.7%, prostate cancer from 52.5% to 98.3%, breast cancer from 93.4% to 98.7%, and cervical cancer from 84.8% to 96.0%. Participants demonstrated improved understanding of screening modalities and risk factors, including tobacco-related harms. Despite these gains, screening-related fears remained evident. These findings demonstrate that contextually adapted, community-based training can strengthen cancer literacy and support early detection strategies in underserved settings.

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