[Reality of health and dietary support for public assistance recipients and individuals experiencing poverty].

Abstract

Objective　Health support is important to promote independent living among individuals experiencing poverty who require welfare support. However, the actual state of the initiative and specific reality of the collaboration partners, within and outside the administration, remain unclear. The participants were welfare offices, which are the main implementers of the public assistance system, and social welfare councils, which are the main implementers of self-reliance consultations and support services for individuals experiencing poverty. This study aimed to clarify whether the health and dietary status of individuals receiving welfare support were checked at the initial interview and whether an assessment sheet was used to evaluate their health and dietary status. We aimed to confirm which organizations collaborate with and outside the government and clarify the content of dietary support.Methods　In January 2024, we conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey of 1,250 welfare offices and 612 social welfare councils. We requested information regarding the confirmation of health and dietary status during the initial interview, use of assessment sheets, cooperation with other organizations, and implementation of dietary support.Results　Of the welfare offices and social welfare councils, > 50% reported checking "physical condition," "regular visits to the hospital and medication," and "means of transportation" for health status during the initial interview with service recipients. They checked "frequency of eating out" and "meal frequency" for dietary status. Approximately 30% of patients in both groups had undergone medical examinations, and > 50% of the welfare offices did not use assessment sheets. The social welfare councils used assessment sheets but did not have any items to check dietary status. The multidisciplinary cooperation of welfare offices was in cooperation with the administration of health checkups and physicians. Social welfare councils cooperated with various organizations. The average number of cooperative groups was significantly higher among those who provided dietary advice in combination with food provision support, such as food banks. These groups were better informed about children's and community cafeterias than groups that did not provide such support.Conclusion　To promote multilayered health and dietary support, assessment sheets could be beneficial for evaluating the health and dietary conditions of individuals requiring support, and cooperation with other organizations, including health professionals, may help create effective support networks.