Odum, MarySmith, Matthew LeeMcKyer, E Lisako J2019-11-182019-11-182014-12Odum, M., Smith, M. L., & McKyer, E. L. J. (2014). African American fathers’ perspectives on their children’s health education: A qualitative, exploratory study. Frontiers in Public Health, 2(276).2296-2565https://hdl.handle.net/10877/8832Purpose: To investigate African-American fathers’ (AAF) perceptions regarding the applicability and need for their involvement as a health connection for their children and describe how participating fathers’ behavior was affected by their attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions of their influence on their children’s health. Methods: This exploratory study gathered data via semi-structured focus groups (n = 3) and thematically analyzed it utilizing a grounded theory approach. Participants included AAF (n = 20) with a mean age of 37 years (SD 11.79), with at least one child between 6 and 18 years old. Results: Four major themes were revealed: (1) appropriate health education for participants’ children (should first and foremost be delivered by parents); (2) participants’ paternal health-related guidance approach (reactive, rather than proactive); (3) participants’ perceived influences on health-related communication with their children (gender roles, efficacy constraints); and (4) paternal definitions of health (most often associated with diet). Conclusion: Understanding AAFs’ perceived and desired role in their children’s health edification can inform initiatives that actively engage these men, and nurture their level of involvement, to promote positive health behaviors among their children; this is necessary to realize their potential to actively improve the health of their children, families, and communities.Text8 pages1 file (.pdf)enAfrican-American fatherspaternal perspectiveschild healthhealth educationqualitativeArticle© 2014 Odum, Smith and McKyer.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00276This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.