title: Assessing the Oral Health Needs of African American Men in Low-Income, Urban Communities.
abstract: Despite improvements in oral health status in the United States, pronounced racial/ethnic disparities exist. Black men are less likely to visit the dentist, are twice as likely to experience tooth decay, and have a significantly lower 5-year oral cancer survival rate when compared to White men. The Minority Men's Oral Health Dental Access Program employed a community-based participatory research approach to examine the oral health barriers and opportunities for intervention among Black men in a low-income, urban neighborhood. A cross-sectional study design was implemented through a self-administered survey completed among 154 Black males. The majority reported not having dental insurance (68.8%). Most frequently cited oral health care barriers were lack of dental insurance and not being able to afford dental care. Attitudes related to the significance of dental care centered on cancer prevention and feeling comfortable with one's smile. The impact of oral health on daily life centered on social interaction, with men citing insecurities associated with eating, talking, and smiling due to embarrassment with how their teeth/mouth looked to others. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that those who had difficulty finding dental care were 4.81 times (odds ratio = 4.65, 95% confidence interval [1.80, 12.85]) more likely to report no dental insurance, and 2.73 times (odds ratio = 3.72; 95% confidence interval [1.12, 6.70]) more likely to report poor oral health. Community-based participatory approaches include assessment of neighborhood residents affected by the health issue to frame interventions that resonate and are more effective. Social, physical, and infrastructural factors may emerge, requiring a multilevel approach.
authors.affiliation: 1 Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Tabia Henry
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Akintobi
authors.affiliation: 2 Pittsburgh Community Improvement Association, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: LaShawn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: 1 Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Calvin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.affiliation: 3 Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goodin
authors.affiliation: 1 Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Natalie D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: 1 Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Latrice
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rollins
authors.affiliation: 4 McKing Consulting Corporation, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Assia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011203:Poverty; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Black men; barriers; community-based participatory research; dental care; oral health