title: The involvement of low-income African American fathers in their children's lives, and the barriers they face.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the involvement of fathers in the lives of low-income African American 8-year-old children, and the barriers they face.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample was comprised of 117 fathers or father figures of 8-year-olds in families participating in a longitudinal study of child development and maltreatment. The men were asked a series of open-ended questions pertaining to their involvement in the children's lives. Their responses were audiotaped and transcribed. Major themes and subthemes were identified and coded on NVIVO software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The men conveyed a strong sense of commitment to the children, identifying many issues reported by white and middle class men, such as providing support and affection and teaching values and skills. They raised the need to protect the children and help take care of them when sick, some adding that they did not feel confident doing so. They saw discipline as one of their roles, but described this as difficult for them. The men faced challenges of not having financial resources, not living with the child, and lacking knowledge or skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This group of fathers appears to be clearly committed to their children, despite significant challenges. There are a variety of ways that pediatricians can help facilitate their positive involvement in children's lives, and they may well contribute to the health and development of such high-risk children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. hdubowitz@peds.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dubowitz
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaughan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States