Online Program

Oral

Health interventions for African American (AA) men have been conducted in barbershops without knowledge of the specific socio-demographic characteristics of barbershop clients. We conducted an observational survey of AA male barbers and clients in Chicago neighborhoods to assess the socioeconomic features of AA men receiving grooming services in predominantly AA barbers. Methods: From February through May 2015, 100 AA male clients and 25 barbers, age ≥18 years were recruited from 25 of 77 socioeconomically diverse Chicago neighborhood barbershops that served predominantly AAs. All men were recruited while in the barbershops after being approached by research team and underwent informed consent. Clients and barbers completed 4-page self-administered surveys. Participants were compensated $15 for their time. Results: Client age, insurance status, religion, employment and marital status, sexual orientation and other demographic information were collected. Free response questions were included for participants to provide their recommended approach to find and recruit AA men of various age groups for sessions on health screenings or health education to AA men. Comparisons will be made to their neighborhood demographics to look for patterns. Conclusions: Men who are in barbershops may differ from the socio-demographics of their neighborhood. Barbers tend to provide grooming services to AA men of similar ages. As the barbershop continues to be a leading model in addressing health needs for AA men, the results will also elucidate who this model should be applied to and what demographics fall outside this model. The results will also provide other alternate culturally relevant spaces to increase the health education and promotion of AA men.

Session Objectives: List the relationship of the socioeconomic status of men receiving services in barbershops versus the baseline neighborhood characteristics. List other places where African American men could be captured for health education