Parenting Needs of Urban, African American Fathers

Abstract

Fathers play a critical role in children's development; similarly, fatherhood positively affects men's health. Among the larger population of fathers relatively little is known about the parenting knowledge of urban, African American fathers. Focusing on urban, African American fathers, the objectives of this study were to (1) understand the primary sources from which fathers learn about parenting, (2) determine where and how fathers prefer to receive future parenting education, and (3) explore the information perceived as most valuable to fathers and how this compares with the recommended anticipatory guidance (Bright Futures-based) delivered during well visits. Five focus groups, with a total of 21 participants, were conducted with urban fathers at a community-based organization. Study eligibility included being more than18 years old, English speaking, and having at least one child 0 to 5 years old. During the focus groups, fathers were asked where they received parenting information, how and where they preferred to receive parenting information, and what they thought about Bright Futures parenting guidelines. Fathers most commonly described receiving parenting information from their own relatives rather than from their child's health care provider. Most fathers preferred to learn parenting from a person rather than a technology-based source and expressed interest in learning more about parenting at community-based locations. Although fathers viewed health care providers' role as primarily teaching about physical health, they valued Bright Futures anticipatory guidance about parenting. Fathers valued learning about child rearing, health, and development. Augmenting physician counseling about Bright Futures with community-based parenting education may be beneficial for fathers.

Fathers’ Roles in the Care and Development of Their Children: The Role of Pediatricians

“…90 Black fathers involved in raising their preschool-aged children note unique concerns about keeping their children safe in violent neighborhoods and seek strategies for monitoring and educating children about safety and ways to improve community life. 91 Pediatric health care providers should be aware that, although black fathers are indeed eager to learn about child rearing, researchers report they prefer to receive information from relatives or community-based organizations rather than from health care providers, 92 so making connections within the community may be the best way to reach fathers and families. More data are now available on the diversity of Hispanic fathers and the importance of understanding cultural differences, but there are still large research gaps in our understanding of at-risk children of non-English-speaking fathers or displaced undocumented immigrant fathers and of cultural differences more broadly.…”

Health Information Behavior of Expectant and Recent Fathers

“…Compared with women, men searched for information about pain and childbirth, health care, caring for women after childbirth, and emotional/relational issues to a greater extent. The 21 urban, African American fathers participating in the focus groups conducted by T. K. Smith et al (2015) reported appreciating information after the birth of a child about child rearing, developmental milestones, communicating effectively with children, and health information.…”

“…The fathers in T. K. Smith et al's (2015) study learned about parenting primarily from interpersonal sources such as relatives, community members, home, and members of a church community. Participants also obtained information from books, brochures, and other written documents.…”

“…Beyond the work of Lima-Pereira et al (2011) and T. K. Smith et al (2015), few studies examine the health information behavior of fathers-at any income level-expecting a baby or raising a young child. Thus, the study seeks to expand on extant research by not only conducting further inquiry into paternal information needs, seeking behaviors, and intervening variables but also by making comparisons across income groups to uncover distinct processes and characteristics of information behavior.…”

“…T.K. Smith, Tandon, Bair-Merritt, and Hanson (2015), offering the most comprehensive account of information behavior at the time of this publication, examine the information needs and preferred sources of information of urban, African American fathers. While Lima-Pereira et al (2011) reported similarities in information needs and sources among women and men, T. K. Smith et al (2015) provide rich and descriptive insights into the information behavior unique to fathers raising a young child.…”