Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women and remains a major public health concern despite being largely preventable through early detection and regular screening practices. Increasing early detection rates depends on women's ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, perform regular breast self-examination (BSE), and maintain adequate health motivation. However, women who are illiterate and reside in rural areas generally have low levels of breast cancer awareness, which adversely affects early detection behaviors. This situation is associated with insufficient knowledge, misconceptions, limited access to healthcare services, and low health literacy. Previous studies have demonstrated that educational interventions supported by visual materials are effective in improving health awareness among individuals with low educational attainment. Therefore, this study aims to contribute to the limited literature by evaluating an intervention designed to improve breast cancer awareness among women with low literacy levels.

The study is designed for illiterate women of reproductive age (15-49 years) living in rural areas. Participants will receive breast self-examination (BSE) education using visual materials. The educational content will include breast anatomy, signs and symptoms of breast cancer, the importance of early detection, and the correct steps for performing breast self-examination. Pictures, breast models, videos, and hands-on demonstration techniques will be used throughout the educational sessions. The effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated using a pretest-posttest design by comparing changes in breast cancer awareness and health motivation before and after the educational program. The research process will include a literature review, development of educational materials, implementation of the intervention, data collection, and statistical analysis, with the principal investigator actively involved in all phases of the study.

The study is expected to improve participants' ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, increase the frequency of breast self-examination, and enhance their health motivation. Furthermore, the findings are expected to support the development of community-based health education skills among midwifery students, encourage their active participation in preventive healthcare services, and strengthen their involvement in scientific research. The results may also provide evidence for planning educational programs targeting women with low educational attainment and contribute to the development of visual material-based educational strategies. Ultimately, the study is anticipated to increase women's awareness of their own health responsibilities, promote early detection behaviors, improve quality of life, and indirectly contribute to reducing breast cancer-related mortality.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women worldwide, and early detection is one of the most effective strategies for reducing mortality. However, women with limited literacy often have lower awareness of breast cancer, inadequate knowledge of breast self-examination (BSE), and reduced motivation to engage in preventive health behaviors. Traditional educational approaches that rely heavily on written information may be insufficient for this population.

This randomized controlled trial has been designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a visual educational intervention developed specifically for illiterate women of reproductive age living in rural areas. The intervention incorporates culturally appropriate visual materials, including illustrated educational brochures, demonstration videos, and a handmade amigurumi breast model to facilitate practical learning of breast self-examination techniques.

Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive structured face-to-face education delivered in three educational sessions. The sessions include information on breast anatomy, warning signs of breast cancer, the importance of early detection, recommended breast cancer screening practices, and step-by-step demonstration of breast self-examination using visual teaching materials. Interactive practice and reinforcement activities are incorporated to improve knowledge retention and skill acquisition.

Participants in the control group will receive routine health services without the structured educational intervention during the study period.

The effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated by comparing changes in breast cancer awareness and health motivation before and after the intervention using validated measurement instruments. The findings are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of visual education strategies for improving preventive health behaviors among women with low literacy and may contribute to the development of community-based breast cancer education programs for disadvantaged populations.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to communicate verbally No visual or hearing impairment Aged between 15 and 49 years No previously diagnosed chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, asthma, epilepsy, etc.) No history of breast cancer education or breast self-examination (BSE/KKMM) training within the last 21 days Female participants

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently pregnant or planning pregnancy in the near future Presence of a family history of breast cancer Having any health condition that would prevent participation in the educational intervention

Individual participant data will not be shared. The dataset generated in this study will remain confidential and will only be used for scientific reporting and publication purposes.