Pediatric asthma management among African American fathers: Navigating the co-parent relationship

Asthma is among the most common chronic illness among children (Akinbami, 2006). Roughly 1.8 million African American children (17.3%) currently have asthma, a rate significantly higher than White children (7.8%) (Akinbami, Rhodes, & Lara, 2005). Despite the disproportionate burden born by African American children, asthma may be effectively controlled through proper diagnosis, care, and management. Although several studies have examined family factors that shape asthma management, few have assessed fathers' role in caring for the health needs of their children with asthma (Stewart & Menning, 2009; Bronke-Tinkew, et al., 2009). This study draws a sample of African American men (n = 24) whose children (n = 33, m = 8.4 years) have asthma to explore fathers' experiences managing their children's asthma. Grounded theory guided a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews in which participants discussed how their contextual factors impact their engagement in asthma management, particicularly their relationships with the mothers of their children (Daly, 2007). Three narratives emerged that suggest that the romantic tenor of the co-parent relationship, communication patterns, and gendered division of responsibilities shaped how African American men negotiate asthma management for their children. The present study builds on prior studies of pediatric asthma management and begins to elucidate how family processes, as a social determinant of health, shape experiences of asthma among African American children. Implications for policy and practice will be discussed.