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Trends and determinants of drinking water practices among North Carolina children
Uhlee Oh1, Jane A Weintraub2, Lattice D Sams3
1Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, MCPHS University, Boston, MA, USA.
Insights
Bottled water consumption among North Carolina children has significantly increased over 15 years. This trend is most common in low-income and rural families, highlighting disparities in drinking water access.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Drinking water practices are crucial for child health.
- Understanding trends in bottled water (BW) versus community water (CW) consumption is important for public health initiatives.
- Previous research has not extensively detailed these trends in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify trends in bottled water (BW) versus community water (CW) consumption among pediatric patients.
- To determine factors influencing BW consumption in families of dental patients.
- To analyze drinking water practices over a 15-year period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of electronic health records from 2002-2016.
- Inclusion of first-time routine-care pediatric patients (ages 0-16).
- Statistical analyses included descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable modeling.
Main Results:
- Bottled water consumption increased from 17% in 2004 to 42% in 2016.
- Medicaid-enrolled children were twice as likely to consume BW (PR=2.1).
- Rural residents showed a 30% higher likelihood of BW consumption (PR=1.3).
Conclusions:
- Bottled water consumption is rising significantly among North Carolina children.
- Low-income and rural populations disproportionately consume bottled water.
- These findings suggest a need for targeted public health interventions to ensure equitable access to safe community water.
Objectives:
To identify trends and determinants of drinking water practices [bottled (BW) versus community water (CW) consumption] among families of pediatric patients presenting to an academic dental institution over 15 years.
Methods:
Electronic health record data were obtained for all first-time routine-care patients ages 0-16 presenting to UNC-Chapel Hill's Pediatric Dentistry Clinics from 2002 to 2016, including families' primary drinking water source and patient demographics (e.g., age, gender, residence, insurance status). Data analyses included descriptive and bivariate methods and multivariable modeling using a P < 0.05 statistical significance criterion.
Results:
BW consumption has increased over time, from 17 percent in 2004 to 42 percent in 2016 (n = 2,920; P < 0.05). Medicaid-enrolled children [prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.8-2.4] and residents of rural counties (PR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1-1.5) were significantly more likely to consume BW versus CW.
Conclusions:
BW consumption among NC children has been increasing and is most prevalent among low-income families and in rural areas.
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