Early childhood allergy prevention (ECAP) encompasses several recommended as well as not recommended parental behaviours related to nutrition of mother/child and the living environment. Previous studies showed that health literacy (HL) is related to positive health behaviours directed at the child. This study aimed to analyse the association between mothers’ HL and ECAP behaviours practiced in German families.

1662 mothers participating in the KUNO-Kids health study in the area of Regensburg, Germany were surveyed on HL (health care scale of the Health Literacy Survey-EU questionnaire) and several ECAP behaviours. Latent class analysis was used to identify patterns in ECAP behaviours. Multinomial logistic regression models were performed for the total analysis sample as well as stratified for children at-risk and not at-risk for allergies.

A model with three classes showed the best fit („recommended behaviour“ N=871, „allergen-avoiding behaviour“ N=490, „mixed“ N=301). Compared to the class „recommended behaviour“, the class „allergen-avoiding behaviour“ was negatively (OR=0.968, p<0.001), and the class „mixed“ was not associated with HL (OR=0.999, p=0.905). Results were similar for both children at-risk and not at-risk for allergies.

We identified different patterns of ECAP behaviours. Improving HL could contribute to the implementation of recommended ECAP behaviours in families, especially to the reduction of allergen-avoiding behaviours. However, further research on underlying pathways is needed.