Government Housing Assistance and Cancer Screening Among Adults With Low Income

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Cancer Control

Background:

• Affordable housing is crucial for cancer control among low-income populations.
• Financial barriers can impede access to preventive cancer care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between government housing assistance and cancer screening.
• To identify disparities in screening based on housing status.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2019 and 2021 National Health Interview Survey data.
• Analyzed breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening adherence.
• Employed multivariable logistic regression, stratified by demographics and location.

Main Results:

• Housing assistance was linked to higher breast and colorectal cancer screening rates initially.
• Adjusted models showed no significant overall difference.
• Stratified analysis revealed increased breast cancer screening for urban women, Hispanic women, and women aged 45-54.

Conclusions:

• Housing policies may improve breast cancer screening access for specific subgroups.
• Further investigation into the mechanisms connecting housing assistance and screening is warranted.