To assess the association between food insecurity and adherence to guideline-concordant colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening, and to evaluate whether SNAP participation mitigates screening disparities among food-insecure individuals.
Approach:
Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
Sample: Included noninstitutionalized US adults aged 18 years or older with complete responses on food insecurity, SNAP participation, and cancer screening.
Data Collection: Utilized a complex, multistage probability design to yield nationally representative results.
Primary Exposure: Food insecurity assessed using responses to a specific survey question.
Primary Outcomes: Guideline-concordant cancer screening for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers based on self-reported data.
Key Findings:
Food insecurity is linked to lower adherence to cancer screening guidelines.
SNAP participation may attenuate the negative impact of food insecurity on cancer screening.
Interpretation:
The study aims to identify SNAP as a potential policy lever to reduce inequities in cancer prevention among food-insecure populations.
Limitations:
The binary classification of food insecurity does not capture its full spectrum.
The study is based on self-reported data, which may introduce bias.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that addressing food insecurity through programs like SNAP could improve cancer screening adherence.
