Work

A Water Availability Intervention in New York City Public Schools: Influence on Youths’ Water and Milk Behaviors

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: We determined the influence of "water jets" on observed water and milk taking and self-reported fluid consumption in New York City public schools. METHODS: From 2010 to 2011, before and 3 months after water jet installation in 9 schools, we observed water and milk taking in cafeterias (mean 1000 students per school) and surveyed students in grades 5, 8, and 11 (n=2899) in the 9 schools that received water jets and 10 schools that did not. We performed an observation 1 year after implementation (2011-2012) with a subset of schools. We also interviewed cafeteria workers regarding the intervention. RESULTS: Three months after implementation we observed a 3-fold increase in water taking (increase of 21.63 events per 100 students; P<.001) and a much smaller decline in milk taking (-6.73 events per 100 students; P=.012), relative to comparison schools. At 1 year, relative to baseline, there was a similar increase in water taking and no decrease in milk taking. Cafeteria workers reported that the water jets were simple to clean and operate. CONCLUSIONS: An environmental intervention in New York City public schools increased water taking and was simple to implement.

Source: American Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302221