How the “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” Communication Campaign Built Support for Policy Action on Sugary Drinks in Jamaica
Background: This study assesses the effectiveness of a campaign “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” that ran nationally in Jamaica in four phases from 2017 to 2019 to increase knowledge about the harms of sugary drinks, shift attitudes, and build support for policy actions to address sugary drink cons...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | Nutrients |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/14/2866 |
| _version_ | 1797433238647472128 |
|---|---|
| author | Donnelle Christian Meena Maharjan Alexey Kotov Trish Cotter Sandra Mullin Vonetta Nurse Barbara McGaw Deborah Chen Pallavi Puri Shuo Wang Nalin Singh Negi Nandita Murukutla |
| author_facet | Donnelle Christian Meena Maharjan Alexey Kotov Trish Cotter Sandra Mullin Vonetta Nurse Barbara McGaw Deborah Chen Pallavi Puri Shuo Wang Nalin Singh Negi Nandita Murukutla |
| author_sort | Donnelle Christian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: This study assesses the effectiveness of a campaign “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” that ran nationally in Jamaica in four phases from 2017 to 2019 to increase knowledge about the harms of sugary drinks, shift attitudes, and build support for policy actions to address sugary drink consumption, including a tax and a ban in schools. Methods: Campaign impact was measured in representative cross-sectional household surveys of adults ages 18 to 55. A baseline survey was conducted before the launch of the campaign (<i>n</i> = 1430). Evaluation surveys were conducted mid-campaign (<i>n</i> = 1571) and post-campaign (<i>n</i> = 1500). Campaign impact was assessed by comparing changes across survey periods on key knowledge, attitudinal and policy support outcome indicators. The independent association between campaign awareness and outcomes was analyzed using logistic regression analyses. Results: The campaign was recalled by more than 80% of respondents and was well-received with 90% or more respondents describing it as believable and relevant. There was a decline in knowledge on the harms of sugary drinks from the baseline to post-campaign period, notably on risks of diabetes (adjusted odds ratio or AOR = 0.62, <i>p</i> < 0.001), overweight and obesity (AOR = 0.58, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and heart disease (AOR = 0.79, <i>p</i> < 0.003). However, post-campaign awareness was independently associated in logistic regression analysis with improved knowledge of the harms of sugary drinks, including risks of diabetes (AOR = 1.45, <i>p</i> = 0.019), overweight or obesity (AOR = 1.65, <i>p</i> = 0.001), and heart disease (AOR = 1.44, <i>p</i> = 0.011). Support for government action remained high across survey waves (≥90%), and campaign awareness was independently associated with increased policy support for sugary drinks taxes (Mid-campaign: AOR = 1.43, <i>p</i> = 0.019; post-campaign: AOR = 1.46, <i>p</i> = 0.01) and restrictions on sugary drinks in schools (AOR = 1.55, <i>p</i> = 0.01). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the role that media campaigns can play in maintaining knowledge and concern about the health harms of sugary drinks and increasing support for policy passage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:14:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-349b4427d511409599d4bdfd6deddca6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:14:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-349b4427d511409599d4bdfd6deddca62023-12-01T22:31:48ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-07-011414286610.3390/nu14142866How the “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” Communication Campaign Built Support for Policy Action on Sugary Drinks in JamaicaDonnelle Christian0Meena Maharjan1Alexey Kotov2Trish Cotter3Sandra Mullin4Vonetta Nurse5Barbara McGaw6Deborah Chen7Pallavi Puri8Shuo Wang9Nalin Singh Negi10Nandita Murukutla11Policy Advocacy and Communication Division, Vital Strategies, New York, NY 10005, USAPolicy Advocacy and Communication Division, Vital Strategies, New York, NY 10005, USAPolicy Advocacy and Communication Division, Vital Strategies, New York, NY 10005, USAPolicy Advocacy and Communication Division, Vital Strategies, New York, NY 10005, USAPolicy Advocacy and Communication Division, Vital Strategies, New York, NY 10005, USAGlobal Health Advocacy Project, The Heart Foundation of Jamaica, 28 Beechwood Avenue P.O. Box 338, Kingston 5, JamaicaGlobal Health Advocacy Project, The Heart Foundation of Jamaica, 28 Beechwood Avenue P.O. Box 338, Kingston 5, JamaicaGlobal Health Advocacy Project, The Heart Foundation of Jamaica, 28 Beechwood Avenue P.O. Box 338, Kingston 5, JamaicaPolicy Advocacy and Communication Division, Vital Strategies, New York, NY 10005, USAPolicy Advocacy and Communication Division, Vital Strategies, New York, NY 10005, USAPolicy Advocacy and Communication Division, Vital Strategies, New York, NY 10005, USAPolicy Advocacy and Communication Division, Vital Strategies, New York, NY 10005, USABackground: This study assesses the effectiveness of a campaign “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” that ran nationally in Jamaica in four phases from 2017 to 2019 to increase knowledge about the harms of sugary drinks, shift attitudes, and build support for policy actions to address sugary drink consumption, including a tax and a ban in schools. Methods: Campaign impact was measured in representative cross-sectional household surveys of adults ages 18 to 55. A baseline survey was conducted before the launch of the campaign (<i>n</i> = 1430). Evaluation surveys were conducted mid-campaign (<i>n</i> = 1571) and post-campaign (<i>n</i> = 1500). Campaign impact was assessed by comparing changes across survey periods on key knowledge, attitudinal and policy support outcome indicators. The independent association between campaign awareness and outcomes was analyzed using logistic regression analyses. Results: The campaign was recalled by more than 80% of respondents and was well-received with 90% or more respondents describing it as believable and relevant. There was a decline in knowledge on the harms of sugary drinks from the baseline to post-campaign period, notably on risks of diabetes (adjusted odds ratio or AOR = 0.62, <i>p</i> < 0.001), overweight and obesity (AOR = 0.58, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and heart disease (AOR = 0.79, <i>p</i> < 0.003). However, post-campaign awareness was independently associated in logistic regression analysis with improved knowledge of the harms of sugary drinks, including risks of diabetes (AOR = 1.45, <i>p</i> = 0.019), overweight or obesity (AOR = 1.65, <i>p</i> = 0.001), and heart disease (AOR = 1.44, <i>p</i> = 0.011). Support for government action remained high across survey waves (≥90%), and campaign awareness was independently associated with increased policy support for sugary drinks taxes (Mid-campaign: AOR = 1.43, <i>p</i> = 0.019; post-campaign: AOR = 1.46, <i>p</i> = 0.01) and restrictions on sugary drinks in schools (AOR = 1.55, <i>p</i> = 0.01). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the role that media campaigns can play in maintaining knowledge and concern about the health harms of sugary drinks and increasing support for policy passage.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/14/2866sugary drinksJamaicamass media campaigntax |
| spellingShingle | Donnelle Christian Meena Maharjan Alexey Kotov Trish Cotter Sandra Mullin Vonetta Nurse Barbara McGaw Deborah Chen Pallavi Puri Shuo Wang Nalin Singh Negi Nandita Murukutla How the “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” Communication Campaign Built Support for Policy Action on Sugary Drinks in Jamaica Nutrients sugary drinks Jamaica mass media campaign tax |
| title | How the “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” Communication Campaign Built Support for Policy Action on Sugary Drinks in Jamaica |
| title_full | How the “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” Communication Campaign Built Support for Policy Action on Sugary Drinks in Jamaica |
| title_fullStr | How the “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” Communication Campaign Built Support for Policy Action on Sugary Drinks in Jamaica |
| title_full_unstemmed | How the “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” Communication Campaign Built Support for Policy Action on Sugary Drinks in Jamaica |
| title_short | How the “Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?” Communication Campaign Built Support for Policy Action on Sugary Drinks in Jamaica |
| title_sort | how the are we drinking ourselves sick communication campaign built support for policy action on sugary drinks in jamaica |
| topic | sugary drinks Jamaica mass media campaign tax |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/14/2866 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT donnellechristian howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT meenamaharjan howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT alexeykotov howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT trishcotter howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT sandramullin howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT vonettanurse howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT barbaramcgaw howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT deborahchen howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT pallavipuri howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT shuowang howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT nalinsinghnegi howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica AT nanditamurukutla howthearewedrinkingourselvessickcommunicationcampaignbuiltsupportforpolicyactiononsugarydrinksinjamaica |