Strong Fathers; Strong Babies
Mentor 1
Kris Barnekow
Mentor 2
David Pate
Start Date
1-5-2020 12:00 AM
Description
Infant mortality is the number of deaths per 1,000 live birth of children under one year of age. In Milwaukee, infant mortality disproportionately affects the African American population (43%) compared to the White population (13%). There are many factors that contribute to infant mortality. The Wisconsin Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families mentioned, “lack of fatherhood involvement” as one of the root causes. A father’s absence can influence a child’s cognitive development, emotional and social health. Some of the negative implications that the children might experience include, but are not limited to, lack of academic achievement, behavioral problems, and overall well-being. This research was conducted to become knowledgeable about the experiences of Black fathers and determine effective interventions that support Black fathers in their occupational role. Focus group methodology and qualitative analysis were used to answer questions such as the father’s engagement level with their children, their knowledge about infant mortality in Milwaukee, and how an app can educate them about important issues like infant mortality. The study consists of forty-one African American fathers, who are involved in their child’s life, participants of Fatherhood programs, and between the ages 21-57. The fathers participated in four separate focus groups with 8-12 men in each group to evaluate and analyze the Strong Babies Campaign. The Strong Babies Campaign is a health communication tool aimed at educating parents about improving their children’s health and decreasing infant childhood mortality. According to the focus group participation, The Strong Babies Campaign did not effectively convey the message. The fathers stated that the posters about infant mortality were misleading. A more in-depth analysis to verify themes is needed.
Strong Fathers; Strong Babies
Infant mortality is the number of deaths per 1,000 live birth of children under one year of age. In Milwaukee, infant mortality disproportionately affects the African American population (43%) compared to the White population (13%). There are many factors that contribute to infant mortality. The Wisconsin Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families mentioned, “lack of fatherhood involvement” as one of the root causes. A father’s absence can influence a child’s cognitive development, emotional and social health. Some of the negative implications that the children might experience include, but are not limited to, lack of academic achievement, behavioral problems, and overall well-being. This research was conducted to become knowledgeable about the experiences of Black fathers and determine effective interventions that support Black fathers in their occupational role. Focus group methodology and qualitative analysis were used to answer questions such as the father’s engagement level with their children, their knowledge about infant mortality in Milwaukee, and how an app can educate them about important issues like infant mortality. The study consists of forty-one African American fathers, who are involved in their child’s life, participants of Fatherhood programs, and between the ages 21-57. The fathers participated in four separate focus groups with 8-12 men in each group to evaluate and analyze the Strong Babies Campaign. The Strong Babies Campaign is a health communication tool aimed at educating parents about improving their children’s health and decreasing infant childhood mortality. According to the focus group participation, The Strong Babies Campaign did not effectively convey the message. The fathers stated that the posters about infant mortality were misleading. A more in-depth analysis to verify themes is needed.
