Consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages by 2-year-olds: Findings from a population-based survey

Objective To determine risk factors for consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among 2-year-old children. Design The analysis was performed using three linked data sets: the 2004-2005 Oregon Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Survey (PRAMS); its longitudinal follow-up, 2006-2007 Oregon PRAMS-2; and 2004-2005 Oregon birth certificates. Setting PRAMS is a surveillance programme supported by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and implemented by participating state health departments. Using mixed methods, PRAMS surveys women 2-6 months after a live birth. Oregon PRAMS-2 re-interviews respondents shortly after the index child's second birthday. Oregon PRAMS oversamples minority women. Subjects Using monthly cohorts, we randomly selected 5851 women from the 2004-2005 birth certificates. In total 1911 women completed both PRAMS and PRAMS-2. The weighted response rate of PRAMS-2 was 43·5 %. Results Almost half of mothers (49·9 %) reported that their child drank SSB on at least 1 d/week. Mothers whose children drank SSB at least once weekly were more likely to have low income (adjusted OR = 2·83, 95 % CI 2·09, 3·83) and to eat out on ≥2 d/week (OR = 2·11 %, 95 % CI 1·66, 2·70). Hispanic and non-Hispanic black women were most likely to report that their child drank SSB at least once weekly. Conclusions Half of mothers reported that their 2-year-old children drank SSB at least once weekly. Public health interventions and policies should address childhood SSB consumption including educating health-care providers and parents.