Singapore’s mixed-payer health system places significant responsibility on individuals to adopt positive health behaviours. Recent HealthierSG (HSG) and Screen for Life (SFL) initiatives illustrate preventive-care as a core tenet of Singapore’s health policy framework. While awareness is traditionally an antecedent in health-behaviour models, its differential impact across distinct “awareness levels”, and how this translates into preventive-care uptake, remains poorly characterised, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged rental-flat communities where contextual factors complicate engagement.This study (1) examines patterns of screening uptake, (2) evaluates how distinct levels of awareness differentiate screening behaviour, and (3) characterises reasons for non-uptake in a Singapore rental-flat community.A cross-sectional analysis of 120 rental-flat-dwelling adults aged ≥45 was conducted at a community health screening. Participants self-reported awareness at two tiers: basic programme recognition and actionable awareness (understanding of subsidies, eligibility and enrolment) and HSG and SFL enrolment. Data were summarised with descriptive statistics. Associations were analysed with logistic regression. Qualitative responses were thematically grouped.Participants (mean age 63.7 (±10.8); 52.5% female) had 25.0% and 31.7% enrolment rates in HSG and SFL respectively.  Basic awareness was not significantly associated with screening uptake (HSG: p=0.058; aOR=1.38; 95%CI 0.99-1.90 and SFL: p=0.785; aOR=1.09; 95%CI 0.58-2.05). Conversely, actionable awareness significantly predicted uptake (HSG: p=0.003; aOR=3.15; 95%CI 1.49-6.65 and SFL: p=0.043; aOR=1.35; 95%CI 1.10-1.80). Demographic covariates showed no statistical significance.  94 participants provided qualitative responses, commonly citing lack of awareness or procedural understanding (31.9%), absence of symptoms or ambivalence towards preventive-care (27.7%) and lack of time (13.8%) as barriers. Other reasons included cost and fear of adverse results.This study illustrates a literacy threshold, where actionable (rather than basic) awareness drives uptake, aligning with the established Precaution Adoption Process Model. Individuals may understand the existence of a programme, yet lack ability to navigate its procedural aspects. Such process-level gaps inadvertently widen inequities in rental-flat communities who already face other barriers, in particular, reduced health literacy, revealed in responses such as “absence of symptoms”, which demonstrates insufficient understanding of preventive-care principles.Strengthening process-level literacies through context-sensitive support and intentional communication tools is vital to ensuring informed screening participation, and equity in Singapore’s care landscape.