title: Alternative Locales for the Health Promotion of African American Men: A Survey of African American Men in Chicago Barbershops.
abstract: African American men (AA) carry unequal burdens of several conditions including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and HIV. Engagement of diverse populations including AA men in research and health promotion practice is vital to examining the health disparities that continue to plague many racially and ethnically diverse communities. To date, there is little research on best practices that indicate locations, community areas and settings to engage AA men in research and health promotion. Traditionally, the AA church has been a key area to engage AA men and women. However, changing tides in attendance of AA parishioners require additional information to identify areas where AAs, particularly, AA men congregate. The AA barbershop has been identified as a place of social cohesion, cultural immersion and solidarity for AA men but specific sub-populations of AA men may be underrepresented. To further investigate additional locales where AA men congregate, this study engaged AA barbers and clients in several urban community barbershops in Chicago, Illinois. 127 AA men over age 18y/o receiving grooming services in 25 Chicago area barbershops across 14 predominantly AA communities were consented and recruited for a quantitative survey study. The self-administered surveys were completed in ~15 min and $10 compensation was provided to men. Descriptive statistics were reported for demographic variables and for frequency of responses for locations to find AA men of specific age ranges for health promotion and screening activities. Outside of the traditionally used churches or barbershops, the top recommended recruitment sites by age were: 18-29y/o- city park or a recreational center; 30-39y/o- gym, bars or the street; 40-49y/o- various stores, especially home improvement stores, and the mall; and 50y/o+- fast food restaurants in the mornings, such as McDonalds, and individual's homes. The study participants also reported that locations where AA men congregate vary by age. Findings from this study illustrate that AA barbers and barbershops remain a key stakeholder in health promotion among AA men. The findings also demonstrate the need for additional research to examine best practices for identifying locations where diverse groups of AA men that vary by age and sexual orientation may congregate in order to support increased health promotion among AA men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Avenue Tarry Bldg. 16-729, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. a-murphy2@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: A B
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1578-3530
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Adler University, 17 N. Dearborn Street 15th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60602, USA.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Adler University, 17 N. Dearborn Street 15th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60602, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Adler University, 17 N. Dearborn Street 15th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60602, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gipson
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Avenue Tarry Bldg. 16-729, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keeter
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Avenue Tarry Bldg. 16-729, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cornelious
authors.affiliation: Chicago Global Health Alliance, 645 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 1058, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Avenue Tarry Bldg. 16-729, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois Cancer Center, 914 S. Wood Street Medical College Administration Building, Mail Code 700, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Project Brotherhood Inc., Woodlawn Health Center, 6337 S. Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education*; D000368:Aged; D001461:Barbering; D002641:Chicago; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: African American men; Barbershop model; Health promotion; Recruitment methods