Parental and Provider Perceptions of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Interventions in the First 1000 Days: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND

Novel approaches to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption during the first 1000 days-pregnancy through age 2 years-are urgently needed.

OBJECTIVE

To examine perceptions of SSB consumption and acceptability of potential intervention strategies to promote SSB avoidance in low-income families in the first 1000 days.

METHODS

In this qualitative research, we performed semistructured, in-depth interviews of 25 women and 7 nutrition/health care providers. Eligible women were Women, Infants, and Children program-enrolled and pregnant or had an infant younger than age 2 years. Eligible providers cared for families during the first 1000 days. Using immersion-crystallization techniques, we examined perceptions, barriers, and facilitators related to avoidance of SSB consumption; acceptability of messages framed as positive gains or negative losses; and perceived influence on SSB consumption of various intervention modalities.

RESULTS

Themes related to SSB consumption included parental confusion about healthy beverage recommendations and maternal feelings of lack of control over beverage choices due to pregnancy cravings and infant tastes. Themes surrounding message frames included negative health consequences of sugary drink consumption are strong motivators for behavior change; and savings and cost count, but are not top priority. Highly acceptable intervention strategies included use of images showing health consequences of SSB consumption, illustrations of sugar content at the point of purchase, and multimodal delivery of messages.

CONCLUSIONS

Messages focused on infant health consequences and parental empowerment to evaluate and select healthier beverages based on sugar content should be tested in interventions to reduce SSB consumption in the first 1000 days.