Oral Health Intervention for Low-Income African American Men in Atlanta, Georgia

Objectives. To describe the Minority Men's Oral Health Dental Access Program (MOHDAP) intervention and report participants' outcomes and satisfaction. Methods. MOHDAP was designed to increase the oral health knowledge of lowincome, African American men in Atlanta, GA, in 2013. A community-based participatory approach and needs assessment guided the intervention development, which consisted of 3 educational modules delivered over a 2-day period. All participants (n = 45; mean age = 50 years) were African American men. We assessed changes in oral health knowledge and attitudes at baseline and postintervention via survey. Results. After the intervention, the percentage of correct responses to questions about gingivitis increased by 24.2% (P =.01), about use of a hard (instead of a soft) toothbrush increased by 42.2% (P < .01), and knowledge of ways to prevent gumdiseases increased by 16.0% (P = .03). The percentage agreeing with erroneous statements decreased 11.3% (P = .02) regarding oral health-related fatalism and oral health self-care and 17.4% (P = .05) regarding saving front versus back teeth. Conclusions. Community-based oral health educational interventions designed for African American men may reduce oral health disparities among this population.