Mothers Awareness Regarding Food Allergy among Their Children

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Nursing master student - Faculty Of Nursing. Ain Shams University

2 Professor of Community Health Nursing - Faculty Of Nursing. Ain Shams University.

3 Lecturer of Community Health Nursing - Faculty Of Nursing. Ain Shams University.

Abstract

Background: Food allergy defined as an adverse immune response to specific foods,
typically proteins. In children, there are eight foods that cause 90% of food allergy. These
diseases include food allergies, fever, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and anaphylaxis Symptoms
include red eyes, and itchy rash, runny nose, shortness of breath, and swelling. Aim of
study :to assess mothers awareness regarding food allergy among their children. Design: A
descriptive correlation study was used. Setting: study was conducted as follows: pediatric
Out Patient Clinic of Ain Shams, Helwan General Hospital and Dar El Salam General
Hospital. sample study included 730 Mothers Who Had Children Diagnosed With food
Allergy. Tools: four Tools were Used In This Study: First tool was An Interviewing
Questionnaire, Second tool was questions about awareness regarding food allergy among
their children , Third tool was questionnaire Form for measuring the indicators of mothers
behaviors in relation to food allergies for their children, and fourth tool was questionnaire
Form to measure the factors affecting the lifestyle of mothers with regard to food allergy
among children . Result, current study showed that 56.0 % of mothers of sample had
satisfied level of awareness with food allergy among their children, while 44.0% of mothers
of sample had unsatisfied level of awareness with food allergy among their children, 69.5%
of mothers of sample had negative behavior toward food allergy among their children, while
30.5% of mothers of sample had positive behavior toward food allergy among their children.
Conclusion, current study result there were highly statistically difference between mothers
awareness about food allergy among their children
and their life style, at r<0.001, and
Finding of current study showed that there were high
significance relation between mothers
awareness and their behaviors about food allergy
among their children at r <0.001,
Recommendation , Educating the mothers who have
child suffering from food allergy, and
impact of life style on their children status and how to protect their children from food allergy

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