Tap into Good Teeth--a Western Australian pilot study of children's drinking patterns.
ISSUED ADDRESSED: The increase trend in the prevalence of dental caries in Australian children is a concern to public health professionals. Attitudes, behaviours and lifestyle patterns established in childhood are often carried throughout adult life. The objective of the study was to estimate the proportion of Perth metropolitan year two public primary school children drinking tap water at home, school and play. It also aimed to explore knowledge and attitudes that children and parents have towards drinking tap water, bottled water, fruit juices and soft drinks.


METHODS
Nine Western Australian government primary schools were recruited. A facilitator-led questionnaire was administered to year two primary school students and a matched parent self-administered questionnaire was also completed.


RESULTS
Forty-two per cent of the children in our study reported if thirsty they drank tap (fluoridated) water at home whereas parents stated 60% of children drank tap water at home. The type of drink appeared to vary with time of day/activity while overall water was most frequently drunk; a higher proportion of milk was drunk at breakfast, whereas soft drinks were drunk in a greater proportion while watching television.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found the vast majority of year two children in metropolitan Perth public primary schools are drinking tap water.
School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Western Australia. justine.leavy@uwa.edu.au
Justine E
JE
Leavy
Jane
J
Heyworth
Aves
A
Middleton
Michael
M
Rosenberg
Magdalene
M
Woloszyn
D000818:Animals; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004326:Drinking; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000592:standards; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008892:Milk / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
D060766:Drinking Water