Characteristics of African-American male caregivers in a study of oral health in Detroit--a brief communication.
OBJECTIVE
The role of fathers among African-American men, particularly related to oral health, has received relatively little scholarly attention. This paper describes the characteristics of African-American men who self-identified as primary caregiver to an index child participating in the Detroit Dental Health Project.


METHODS
Of 1,021 caregiver-child pairs recruited to this oral health study, 52 were male. Data were collected at a central site in Detroit on: 1) demographics; 2) social support; 3) oral health beliefs, behaviors, and knowledge; 4) caregivers' and child's oral health.


RESULTS
Participants reported good availability of social support and high perceived self-efficacy to take care of their child's teeth, yet, they possessed limited knowledge on preventing oral health problems. Moreover, male caregivers had high levels of caries, missing teeth, and poor hygiene.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings may inform the development of effective interventions aimed at male caregivers to improve knowledge and understanding of the caries process, particularly concerning their children.
Reisine
Susan
S
Division of Behavioral Sciences, Department of Oral Health and Diagnostic Science, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA. reisine@nsol.uchc.edu
Ajrouch
Kristine J
KJ
Sohn
Woosung
W
Lim
Sungwoo
S
Ismail
Amid
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D004522:Educational Status; D005220:Fathers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult