Knowledge and Awareness About Food Allergy Among Mothers With Allergic Children in the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2023-08, Vol.15 (8), p.e43801-e43801
• Main Authors: Fardan, Zeinh H, Aoun Alshahrani, Mohammed Abdullah, Alalyani, Reem T, Alshahrani, Arwa E, Alshehri, Renad M, Alshamrani, Nawaf Saleh M, Aldabali, Fatimah Obaid M, Alqahtani, Norah Saaed A, Altalhiyyah, Khalid Siraj S, Alqahtani, Mahdi Muhammad M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Allergens; Allergy/Immunology; Breastfeeding & lactation; Children & youth; Cronbach's alpha; Data collection; Education; Eggs; Food allergies; Fruits; Knowledge; Mothers; Population; Questionnaires; Seafood
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43801

IntroductionFood allergies have become a significant health concern worldwide, affecting individuals of all age groups. It is particularly challenging for parents who have children diagnosed with food allergies, as they bear the responsibility of managing their child's condition and ensuring their safety. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness about food allergies among mothers with allergic children in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia.MethodologyA cross-sectional study design was employed, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 400 mothers. The participants were selected through convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to summarize the demographic characteristics, knowledge and awareness levels, prevalence of allergenic foods, manifestations of food allergies, and factors influencing food allergies. Chi-squared tests were conducted to assess associations between variables.ResultsThe study revealed a balanced representation across different age groups among the surveyed mothers, with the highest proportion falling in the 31-40 years range. A significant proportion of mothers had a university education, indicating a relatively higher level of education among the participants. The majority of mothers were employed in governmental positions, followed by housewives and those working in the private sector. Regarding knowledge and awareness, a substantial percentage of mothers correctly identified key aspects of food allergies. However, knowledge gaps were observed, particularly in understanding the hereditary nature. The prevalence of allergenic foods varied, with seafood (fish, shrimp, and tuna) emerging as the most commonly reported allergenic foods, followed by eggs, milk, wheat, chocolate, fruits, nuts, and other food types. Manifestations associated with food allergies were reported, including skin, respiratory, eye, nasal, gastrointestinal, and other symptoms. The associations between different feeding methods and the occurrence of medically diagnosed food allergies were found to be non-significant. However, having other children with food allergies showed a highly significant association with the occurrence of food allergies in the current child. The age of introducing solid food did not demonstrate a significant association with the occurrence of food allergies.ConclusionThis study provides insights into the knowledge and awareness about food allergie