Perceptions of Tap Water and School Water Fountains and Association With Intake of Plain Water and Sugar‐Sweetened Beverages. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Onufrak, Stephen J.; Park, Sohyun; Sharkey, Joseph R.; Merlo, Caitlin; Dean, Wesley R.; Sherry, Bettylou
• Is Part Of: Journal of school health. Volume 84:Number 3(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 195
• Page End: 204
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: School health services -- Periodicals; School children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; School Health Services -- Periodicals; Health Education -- Periodicals; 371.71
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4391

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="josh12138-abs-0001"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="josh12138-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p id="josh12138-para-0001">Little is known regarding youth perceptions of tap water and school water fountains and how these relate to water and sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) intake.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12138-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS</title> <p id="josh12138-para-0002">We used national 2010 YouthStyles data to assess perceptions of tap water and school water fountains and associations with water and SSB intake.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12138-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p id="josh12138-para-0003">Nearly 1 in 5 participants disagreed their tap water was safe and nearly 2 in 5 disagreed school water fountains were clean and safe. Perceived tap water risk was more prevalent among non‐Hispanic (NH) Blacks (26.4%) and Hispanics (28.3%) compared with NH Whites (14.7%, p < .001) and more prevalent among lower‐income youth. Negative water fountain perceptions were more common among high school‐aged youth. Perceived tap water risk was not associated with SSB intake (odds ratio [OR] = 1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6, 1.5) or water intake (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 0.9, 2.1). Negative water fountain perceptions were associated with SSB intake only among Hispanics (race/ethnicity interaction p < .001; OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.3, 6.6) but were not associated with water intake.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12138-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSION</title> <p id="josh12138-para-0004">Negative perceptions of tap water and water fountains among youth are common and should be considered in efforts to provide water in schools.</p> </sec> </abstract>