Parents’ Knowledge Level About New Food Fear and Food Allergies

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of food neophobia among parents of primary school-aged children, identify common allergenic foods in children, and assess parents' knowledge about food allergies. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with parents of students attending public primary schools in a district of the Central Anatolia region in Türkiye during the spring semester of the 2022-2023 academic year. The study was conducted with 341 parents of students selected by a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using a survey method, including a researcher-prepared data collection form and the 'Fear of New Food Scale.' Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized for examining correlation relationships. Results: The majority of parents displayed moderate food neophobia (85.4%), with milk and dairy products, eggs, strawberries, and dyed sugar and chocolate being the most frequently reported allergenic foods for children. A significant proportion of parents (54.8%) lacked information about food allergies. The study reveals that as parents' knowledge of food allergy symptoms and prevention of allergic reactions increases, their burden as measured by the FNS score tends to decrease. Conclusion: These findings have noteworthy implications for pediatric nursing practice, emphasizing the necessity for targeted interventions to educate parents about food allergies and promote safe practices in managing allergic reactions.