Persistence in practicing preventive behaviors Persistence in practicing preventive behaviors was viewed as the ability of the participants to continue practicing preventive behaviors despite the difficulty or perceived barriers. Adherence regarding preventive behaviors means not only performing the act of practicing preventive behaviors but also having to do it often for the rest of your life. Sub-themes supporting “persistence in practicing preventive behaviors” involved repeated action and regular pattern. Repeated activity referred to the ability of participants to practice preventive behaviors asprescribed. Most participants talked about how they incorporated the preventive behaviors into their daily lives because some of them became nonadherent unintentionally due to an inability to overcome barriers and difficulties. They indicated that situational obstacles, lack of social support, daily pressures and roles, and food culture were the main barriers that they had to overcome