Accidental Food Allergen Exposure Does Not Discriminate: Occurs Often and Affects All

Abstract

RATIONALE: Children with food allergies experience accidental food allergen (FA) exposures. As some atopic conditions are associated with socioeconomic factors, this study evaluated the role of demographic factors and health literacy in accidental FA exposures. METHODS: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire and validated Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults were given to caregivers of patients during follow-up visits for previously diagnosed food allergy. Data collection included type of food allergen, annual household income, maternal educational level, race, insurance type, household language, and accidental exposures. Statistical significance of demographic differences was tested using t-tests, chi-square tests or logistical regression in SAS 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.). RESULTS: Of the 298 caregivers who completed the study, 24% reported household income below the county median level. Over half (57%) reported their race as white, 13% were Hispanic and 12% were African-American. English was the household language in 90%. Nearly all caregivers (97%) demonstrated adequate health literacy. Mean child age was 6.2 years (0.8-18.3 years). Accidental exposures occurred in 41%. Older age (odds ratio [OR], 0.98, 95% CI, 0.86-0.98) and household elimination of the allergen (OR, 0.51, 95% CI, 0.32-0.82) were protective against accidental exposures. Significant associations were not found between accidental exposures and income, language, gender, race, insurance type, maternal education level, and health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: Accidental FA exposures occurred frequently and risk for accidental exposures was not affected by demographic factors. The high rate of adequate health literacy in our study population may have prevented finding an association between health literacy and accidental FA exposures.