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Background/Objectives <p>Food allergies are an increasing global health concern and a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Parental awareness is vital, as parents play a key role in preventing and managing food-induced reactions. This study aimed to assess food allergy knowledge and awareness among mothers of food-allergic Saudi children in Al-Madinah Al-Munawara, including the most common allergens, factors associated with developing food allergies, and overall maternal awareness.</p> Methodology <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 mothers having children suffering from food allergies using a structured electronic questionnaire. FA cases confirmed through IgE testing and skin prick tests. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics, knowledge, awareness, and allergy manifestations, while chi-squared tests examined associations between variables.</p> Results <p>From 1,000 mothers screened, 260 with children diagnosed with food allergies were enrolled in the study. A large proportion of participating mothers held university degrees, reflecting a relatively high educational level. Most were employed in governmental positions, followed by housewives and private-sector workers. Peanuts (41%) were the most common allergenic food, followed by nuts (32%), bananas (24%), shrimp (23%), sesame (19%), eggs (17%), milk (16%), strawberries (13%), and fish (10%). Less common allergens included chocolate (10%), wheat (9%), and mango (6%). Reported allergy manifestations involved skin, respiratory, ocular, nasal, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Most (89.2%) saw avoidance of allergenic foods as the key preventive measure, while only 23.1% received advice on daily medication. Most (76.9%) were not advised by their child’s doctor to introduce allergenic foods earlier. The majority of mothers (68.5%) relied on multiple information sources, often informal. Social media (13.5%) was the most cited source, followed by friends/family (5.0%), doctors (6.5%), dietitians (4.6%), and books (1.9%). Maternal age and higher education level were significantly associated with better food allergy knowledge (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001).</p> Conclusion <p>This study highlights mothers’ knowledge of food allergies in Al-Madinah Al-Munawara, Saudi Arabia, revealing some understanding but notable knowledge gaps. Health education programs are recommended to improve awareness, correct misconceptions, and help prevent anaphylaxis in children.</p>

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Knowledge and awareness about food allergies among mothers with food allergic Saudi children in Al-Madinah Al-Munawara Region, Saudi Arabia

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月18日

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  • Inas R. El-Alameey

摘要

Background/Objectives

Food allergies are an increasing global health concern and a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Parental awareness is vital, as parents play a key role in preventing and managing food-induced reactions. This study aimed to assess food allergy knowledge and awareness among mothers of food-allergic Saudi children in Al-Madinah Al-Munawara, including the most common allergens, factors associated with developing food allergies, and overall maternal awareness.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 mothers having children suffering from food allergies using a structured electronic questionnaire. FA cases confirmed through IgE testing and skin prick tests. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics, knowledge, awareness, and allergy manifestations, while chi-squared tests examined associations between variables.

Results

From 1,000 mothers screened, 260 with children diagnosed with food allergies were enrolled in the study. A large proportion of participating mothers held university degrees, reflecting a relatively high educational level. Most were employed in governmental positions, followed by housewives and private-sector workers. Peanuts (41%) were the most common allergenic food, followed by nuts (32%), bananas (24%), shrimp (23%), sesame (19%), eggs (17%), milk (16%), strawberries (13%), and fish (10%). Less common allergens included chocolate (10%), wheat (9%), and mango (6%). Reported allergy manifestations involved skin, respiratory, ocular, nasal, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Most (89.2%) saw avoidance of allergenic foods as the key preventive measure, while only 23.1% received advice on daily medication. Most (76.9%) were not advised by their child’s doctor to introduce allergenic foods earlier. The majority of mothers (68.5%) relied on multiple information sources, often informal. Social media (13.5%) was the most cited source, followed by friends/family (5.0%), doctors (6.5%), dietitians (4.6%), and books (1.9%). Maternal age and higher education level were significantly associated with better food allergy knowledge (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study highlights mothers’ knowledge of food allergies in Al-Madinah Al-Munawara, Saudi Arabia, revealing some understanding but notable knowledge gaps. Health education programs are recommended to improve awareness, correct misconceptions, and help prevent anaphylaxis in children.