Food insecurity, not knowledge, is associated with cancer screening behavior among Black men residing in self-reported food desert conditions

Compared to White American men, Black American men have higher chances of being diagnosed with cancer at late stages. Exposure to area-deprived neighborhoods (e.g., dwelling in food deserts) has been linked to cancer health behaviors. People residing in areas experiencing food insecurity are likely to prioritize obtaining their next meal over preventive behaviors such as cancer screening. We aimed to examine the relationship between food insecurity, cancer risk knowledge, and cancer screening among Black men residing in self-reported food desert conditions. The study utilized a cross-sectional research design. Participants ( N = 186; Mean age = 48.45) responded to a survey assessing food security, utilization of social services and food-related behaviors, knowledge of the benefits of cancer screening, and cancer screening behavior. Results of a Linear Regression analysis showed food insecurity was significantly associated with cancer screening behavior (β = − 0.173, p <.05). Black men who reported experiencing higher levels of food insecurity were less likely to report cancer screening behavior. We found no significant relationship between cancer screening behavior and knowledge of the benefits of cancer screening, utilization of social services, and other study variables. Our findings suggest that addressing food insecurity and enhancing access to healthy foods and health education are critical components of effective public health strategies to reduce cancer disparities, although findings should be interpreted in light of the study’s online sampling approach.