Poor Adherence to Preventive Health Care and Cancer Screening Guidelines Among Food Pantry Clients

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify barriers related to poor adherence to preventative health behaviors in a disparate population. In-depth interviews were conducted with food pantry clients to gain an understanding of food pantry client demographics, health status, concordance to health care and screening guidelines, barriers to food and health care, and food security status. Disparities in health and adherence to preventive health recommendations exist for food pantry clients. Significant barriers contribute to poor adherence to cancer screenings and preventive health guidelines. These data highlight the need to design and implement targeted and multifaceted interventions to improve the health practices of food pantry clients.