TY - JOUR
T1 - Community Perspectives of Childhood Behavioral Problems and ADHD Among African American Parents
AU - Olaniyan, Omolara
AU - dosReis, Susan
AU - Garriett, Victoria
AU - Mychailyszyn, Matthew P.
AU - Anixt, Julia
AU - Rowe, Peter C.
AU - Cheng, Tina L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors do not have any affiliation, financial agreement, or other conflict of interest. This work was funded in part by an Ambulatory Pediatrics Association Region IV Regional Research Project Grant (primary investigator, Dr Olaniyan) and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities P20 MD 00165. This project was led by Omolara Olaniyan, MD, MPH, who died in December 2004. We greatly miss her leadership and dedication to children and families.
PY - 2007/5
Y1 - 2007/5
N2 - Objective: To explore parents' perceptions of childhood behavior problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among a sample of African American (AA) parents. Methods: Five focus groups were conducted in inner-city Baltimore and the Washington, DC, metropolitan region with 5 to 7 AA parents per group. Adults with children under the age of 17 years were recruited from pediatric practices. One investigator moderated each focus group, and a second took notes. Sessions averaged 1.5 hours long, were recorded on audiotape, and were transcribed verbatim. The narrative data were coded for recurring themes. Results: Five major themes emerged from the analysis: causes of behavioral problems in children, the legitimacy of ADHD as a diagnosis, attitudes about doctors, opinions of medication, and perceptions of the school environment. Many participants felt that behavior issues, including those accompanying ADHD, were caused by inappropriate parenting and disciplinary practices. Some viewed the diagnosis as a label applied with racial inequality to exert social control over AAs. Several expressed distrust in physicians who were quick to make a diagnosis of ADHD and recommend medications. Others worried that medication would lead to drug addiction in adulthood. Some perceived that children were labeled with ADHD because of poor educational environments that were unresponsive to the needs of AA children. Conclusions: These focus groups identified important community perceptions about ADHD and its medical treatment. Understanding how these perceptions contribute to racial disparities in ADHD diagnosis and treatment can help inform culturally sensitive interventions to improve the management of ADHD among AA children.
AB - Objective: To explore parents' perceptions of childhood behavior problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among a sample of African American (AA) parents. Methods: Five focus groups were conducted in inner-city Baltimore and the Washington, DC, metropolitan region with 5 to 7 AA parents per group. Adults with children under the age of 17 years were recruited from pediatric practices. One investigator moderated each focus group, and a second took notes. Sessions averaged 1.5 hours long, were recorded on audiotape, and were transcribed verbatim. The narrative data were coded for recurring themes. Results: Five major themes emerged from the analysis: causes of behavioral problems in children, the legitimacy of ADHD as a diagnosis, attitudes about doctors, opinions of medication, and perceptions of the school environment. Many participants felt that behavior issues, including those accompanying ADHD, were caused by inappropriate parenting and disciplinary practices. Some viewed the diagnosis as a label applied with racial inequality to exert social control over AAs. Several expressed distrust in physicians who were quick to make a diagnosis of ADHD and recommend medications. Others worried that medication would lead to drug addiction in adulthood. Some perceived that children were labeled with ADHD because of poor educational environments that were unresponsive to the needs of AA children. Conclusions: These focus groups identified important community perceptions about ADHD and its medical treatment. Understanding how these perceptions contribute to racial disparities in ADHD diagnosis and treatment can help inform culturally sensitive interventions to improve the management of ADHD among AA children.
KW - ADHD
KW - focus groups
KW - parental perceptions
KW - racial disparity
KW - social networks
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ambp.2007.02.002
DO - 10.1016/j.ambp.2007.02.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 17512883
AN - SCOPUS:34248523878
SN - 1530-1567
VL - 7
SP - 226
EP - 231
JO - Ambulatory Pediatrics
JF - Ambulatory Pediatrics
IS - 3
ER -