The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multicultural families with food allergy
Background: Families with food allergy, in particular, have faced numerous challenges, often in the setting of financial and emotional stress during the coronavirus disease 2029 (COVID-19) pandemic. Objective: We examined the impact of the pandemic in a diverse population of families with food aller...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772829325000396 |
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| Summary: | Background: Families with food allergy, in particular, have faced numerous challenges, often in the setting of financial and emotional stress during the coronavirus disease 2029 (COVID-19) pandemic. Objective: We examined the impact of the pandemic in a diverse population of families with food allergy. Methods: An online survey was administered between October 2020 and January 2021 through recruitment of adult caregivers of at least 1 child with food allergy. Survey responses were summarized by frequencies with proportions and medians with interquartile ranges or means plus or minus SDs. Results: Of the 307 individuals who completed questionnaires, 96% were female and 4% were male, with 24% classified as African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Asian, or “other.” Of the respondents, 52% experienced a decrease in household income during the pandemic. Financial stress (P < .001) and lack of access to allergen-free foods (P = .032) was seen in significantly more caregivers with an income less than $200,000. Of the respondents, 76% experienced increased stress or discord within the home. Although becoming a member of a food allergy support group increased over time, significantly fewer African American respondents were members of a support group. The hospitalization rate for COVID-19 did not differ significantly between racial/ethnic groups. Conclusion: Our questionnaire has characterized the significant impact of economic as well as psychological stressors of the pandemic in a diverse population. Further studies on this topic are needed to help minimize the impact of future pandemics in a multicultural population. |
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| ISSN: | 2772-8293 |