EXPERIENCES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADOLESCENT FATHERS

Social and cultural factors influence the experience of fatherhood. Th is descriptive focus-group study describes the lived experience of fat herhood from the perspectives of 5 ur;married, low-income, African Ame rican adolescent fathers in a Midwestern urban area. Naturalistic inqu iry approach guided the study. Seven themes of fatherhood emerged: bar riers to fatherhood, value of fatherhood introduction to fatherhood, c ompetencies of fatherhood, role-set relationships, social norms of fat herhood, and father-child contact This study suggests that nurses shou ld support the involvement of adolescent fathers with their children. Future study may determine the influence of adult female family member s on the decisions of adolescent fathers to remain involved with their children.