A systematic review of strategies to increase drinking-water access and consumption among 0- to 5-year-olds

Exploring barriers and facilitators to water availability and accessibility, and potential strategies for improving water accessibility and children's intake in family childcare homes: a qualitative study

Background

Children in the U.S. drink too little water and too much juice and sugar sweetened beverages. Inadequate access to drinking water in locations where children spend substantial time, like family childcare homes (FCCH) could play a role in low child water intake. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore barriers and facilitators to water availability and accessibility in FCCH, and determine potential strategies for facilitating water accessibility and children's intake in FCCH.

Methods

We conducted virtual interviews, in Spanish and/or English, with family child care providers (FCCP) from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Interviews were conducted by University of Connecticut graduate students, including two who were fluent in Spanish and English. These were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated to English. We conducted a deductive analysis using a priori themes. Additional codes were developed and applied to capture emerging themes from the qualitative data.

Results

Twenty FCCP (100% identified as female; 50% as Latina) participated in the interviews. FCCP barriers to water availability at FCCH included focus on other beverages, e.g., milk; confusion with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines regarding water, and concerns about: water quality, mess, children eating enough food/milk, bathroom accidents, and cost for filters/bottled water. Barriers to children drinking water included: children not liking or preferring water, parental preferences/role modeling, and parental concerns about water quality. Suggested potential strategies to facilitate water access and intake included water filters to ensure safe water access, self-serving stations and water bottles to encourage autonomy among children, and incorporating water into daily routines. Participants also favored materials and activities to educate and encourage children to drink water and to keep track of their intake.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that interventions to increase water consumption at FCCH should provide resources to guarantee safe water access to children, encourage children to drink water, and help clarify misperceptions and confusion around CACFP beverage guidelines. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to provide education and water access resources to FCCP and families on improving child water access, availability and intake.

Perceptions of tap water associated with low-income Michigan mothers' and young children's beverage intake

OBJECTIVE

To quantify perceptions of tap water among low-income mothers with young children residing in Michigan and examine associations between perceptions of tap water, mothers' and young children's beverage intake, and mothers' infant feeding practices.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Online survey.

PARTICIPANTS

Medicaid-insured individuals who had given birth at a large Midwestern US hospital between fall 2016 and fall 2020 were invited by email to complete a survey in winter 2020 (N 3881); 15·6 % (N 606) completed eligibility screening, 550 (90·8 %) were eligible to participate, and 500 (90·9 %) provided valid survey data regarding perceptions of tap water, self and child beverage intake, and infant feeding practices.

RESULTS

Two-thirds (66·2 %) of mothers reported that their home tap water was safe to drink without a filter, while 21·6 % were unsure about the safety of their home tap water. Mothers' perceptions of their home tap water were associated with their own tap and bottled water intake and their young children's tap water and bottled water intake. Mothers with more negative perceptions of tap water in general, independent of their perceptions about their home tap water, consumed more bottled water and sugar-sweetened beverages, and their young children drank bottled water and fruit drinks more frequently. Few associations were observed between mothers' perceptions of tap water and infant feeding practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Uncertainty about tap water safety and negative perceptions of tap water are common among low-income Michigan mothers. These beliefs may contribute to less healthful and more costly beverage intake among mothers and their young children.

Storybooks About Healthy Beverage Consumption: Effects in an Online Randomized Experiment With Parents

INTRODUCTION

Parents spend substantial time reading to their children, making storybooks a promising but understudied avenue for motivating parents to serve their children healthier beverages. This study examines parents' reactions to messages promoting healthy beverage consumption embedded in a children's storybook.

METHODS

In 2020, a total of 2,164 demographically diverse parents of children aged 6 months to 5 years participated in an online survey. Participants were randomized to view control messages (school readiness) or 1 of 3 beverage message topics (sugary drink discouragement, water encouragement, or combined discouragement and encouragement) presented as pages from the storybook Potter the Otter. Survey items assessed parents' reactions to the messages and their perceptions, beliefs, and intentions regarding sugary drinks and water. Data were analyzed in 2021.

RESULTS

Compared with control messages, exposure to the beverage messages led to higher discouragement from serving children sugary drinks and higher encouragement to serve children more water (p<0.001). The beverage messages also elicited more thinking about beverages' health impacts and led to stronger perceptions that sugary drinks are unhealthy (p<0.001). Moreover, the beverage messages led to higher intentions to limit serving children sugary drinks and higher intentions to serve children more water (p≤0.02). Parents' reactions to the beverage messages did not differ by most demographic characteristics. Few differences in outcomes were observed among the 3 beverage message topics.

CONCLUSIONS

Embedding beverage messages in storybooks is a promising, scalable strategy for motivating parents from diverse backgrounds to serve children more water and fewer sugary drinks.

Interventions to increase the consumption of water among children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of interventions to increase children's water consumption. A systematic literature search was conducted in seven electronic databases. Studies published in English before 18 February 2019 that evaluated any type of intervention that measured change in water consumption among children aged 2 to 12 years by applying any type of design were included. Of the 47 interventions included in the systematic review, 24 reported a statistically significant increase in water consumption. Twenty-four interventions (17 randomized controlled trials and seven studies with other controlled designs) were included in the meta-analysis. On average, children in intervention groups consumed 29 mL/d (confidence interval [CI] = 13-46 mL/d) more water than did children in control groups. This effect was larger in eight interventions focused specifically on diet (MD = 73 mL/d, CI = 20-126 mL/d) than in 16 interventions focused also on other lifestyle factors (MD = 15 mL/d, CI = 1-29 mL/d). Significant subgroup differences were also found by study setting and socioecological level targeted but not by children's age group, intervention strategy, or study design. In conclusion, there is evidence that, on average, lifestyle interventions can lead to small increases in children's daily water consumption. More research is needed to further understand the specific intervention elements that have the greatest effect.

A systematic review of the effectiveness of promoting water intake to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether the promotion of water intake could reduce sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption or purchases independent of interventions that target SSBs.

METHODS

Seven databases were systematically searched. Included studies used water promotion as the primary intervention; used a controlled trial, single group pre-post, or prospective cohort study design; included a measure of SSB consumption or purchase; enrolled human participants of any age who lived in high-income or middle-income countries; contained original data; and appeared in a peer-reviewed English-language article published from 1 January 2000 to January 4, 2019. The search yielded 7068 publications, from which 108 were chosen for full-text review. Seventeen were included in this review.

RESULTS

Nine of the 17 studies were randomized controlled trials, six were nonrandomized controlled trials, and 2 were single-group pre-post studies. Participants were primarily children and adolescents. Interventions included water provision, education or promotion activities. Ten of 17 studies were at low or some/moderate risk of bias. Seven studies showed a statistically significant decrease in SSB consumption of which only 2 were at low or some/moderate risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

This review found limited evidence that interventions aimed solely at increasing water consumption reduce SSB intake. Further research is needed to investigate whether interventions that combine water promotion and SSB reduction strategies could be synergistic for reducing SSB intake.

Developing a national research agenda to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and increase safe water access and consumption among 0- to 5-year-olds: a mixed methods approach

OBJECTIVE

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption in early childhood is a public health concern. Adequate hydration in early childhood is also important. We developed a national research agenda to improve beverage consumption patterns among 0-5-year-olds. This article focuses on the process used to develop this research agenda.

DESIGN

A mixed methods, multi-step process was used to develop the research agenda, including: (i) a scientific advisory committee; (ii) systematic reviews on strategies to reduce SSB consumption and increase water access and consumption; (iii) two stakeholder surveys to first identify and then rank strategies to reduce SSB consumption and increase water access and consumption; (iv) key informant interviews to better understand determinants of beverage consumption and strategies to improve beverage consumption patterns among high-risk groups; (v) an in-person convening with experts; and (vi) developing the final research agenda.

SETTING

This process included research and stakeholders from across the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 276 participants completed survey 1 and 182 participants completed survey 2. Key informant interviews were conducted with 12 stakeholders. Thirty experts attended the convening, representing academia, government, and non-profit sectors.

RESULTS

Thirteen key issue areas and 59 research questions were developed. Priority topics were beverage consumption recommendations, fruit-flavoured drink consumption, interventions tailored to high-risk groups, and family engagement in childcare.

CONCLUSIONS

This research agenda lays the groundwork for research efforts to improve beverage patterns of young children. The methods used can be a template to develop research agendas for other public health issues.

Effects of a multipronged beverage intervention on young children's beverage intake and weight: a cluster-randomized pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether a multipronged pilot intervention promoting healthier beverage consumption improved at-home beverage consumption and weight status among young children.

DESIGN

In this exploratory pilot study, we randomly assigned four childcare centres to a control (delayed-intervention) condition or a 12-week intervention that promoted consumption of healthier beverages (water, unsweetened low- or non-fat milk) and discouraged consumption of less-healthy beverages (juice, sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat or sweetened milk). The multipronged intervention was delivered via childcare centres; simultaneously targeted children, parents and childcare staff; and included environmental changes, policies and education. Outcomes were measured at baseline and immediately post-intervention and included children's (n 154) at-home beverage consumption (assessed via parental report) and overweight/obese status (assessed via objectively measured height and weight). We estimated intervention impact using difference-in-differences models controlling for children's demographics and classroom.

SETTING

Two northern California cities, USA, 2013-2014.

PARTICIPANTS

Children aged 2-5 years and their parents.

RESULTS

Relative to control group children, intervention group children reduced their consumption of less-healthy beverages from baseline to follow-up by 5·9 ounces/d (95 % CI -11·2, -0·6) (-174·5 ml/d; 95 % CI -331·2, -17·7) and increased their consumption of healthier beverages by 3·5 ounces/d (95 % CI -2·6, 9·5) (103·5 ml/d; 95 % CI -76·9, 280·9). Children's likelihood of being overweight decreased by 3 percentage points (pp) in the intervention group and increased by 3 pp in the control group (difference-in-differences: -6 pp; 95 % CI -15, 3).

CONCLUSIONS

Our exploratory pilot study suggests that interventions focused comprehensively on encouraging healthier beverage consumption could improve children's beverage intake and weight. Findings should be confirmed in longer, larger studies.