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Role of African‐American Fathers in Child‐Rearing and Oral Health Practices in an Inner City Environment ‐ A Brief Communication
Author(s) -
Broder Hillary,
Reisine Susan,
Johnson Robert
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2006.tb02569.x
Subject(s) - disadvantaged , psychological intervention , health promotion , oral health , medicine , psychology , gerontology , family medicine , public health , nursing , political science , law
Objective: This study assesses parenting behaviors, health behaviors and attitudes in a sample of disadvantaged African‐American fathers and evaluates the potential of fathers as recipients of oral health promotion interventions. Methods: Participants were 60 African‐American fathers whose children were enrolled in a childhood caries prevention study at Women and Infant Child Program (WIC) (n=25) or who were members of a Young Fathers' Program (n=35) at an urban health center. Demographic factors, oral health knowledge, dental self‐efficacy parenting behaviors, readiness to change, and health promotion behaviors were assessed. Results: Participants averaged 30.8 years of age (sd=8.6); children averaged 2.I years (sd=0.9). Half of the fathers always have lived with their own children and 92% had regular physical contact with their children. Almost half of the sample reported ‘fair/poor’ oral health status, while less than 25% reported ‘fair/poor’ general health. Fathers had high oral health knowledge scores ( X =7.7 correct of 9 items), and high readiness for change scores at the action stage ( X =12.2 of 15; sd=1.9). dental self‐efficacy scores were moderate ( X =15.7 of 24; sd=5.5). Half of the fathers shared or had sole responsibility for brushing their children's teeth; 90% report children's teeth were brushed daily. Conclusions: African‐ American fathers participated in childrearing and oral health promotion behaviors.