Sugar Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Its Associated Factors Among Adolescents in Rural and Urban Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract Background: Globally, there has been an increasing trend in the consumption of sugar- sweetened beverages (SSBs) among adolescents and young adults; particularly in the LMIC In Nigeria. SSBs constitute a significant proportion of beverages consumed by adolescents. Excessive consumption of SSBs is associated with major risk factors driving the global burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and have been implicated in the increased prevalence of diet-related NCDs. This study assessed sugar sweetened beverage consumption and its associated factors among adolescents in rural and urban areas of Ogun state, Nigeria. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study conducted among in-school adolescents in rural and urban areas of Ogun State selected via multistage sampling method. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analysed with the aid of SPSS 23.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated, and the level of significance was set at a 95% confidence interval with a P value ≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 1800 in-school adolescents participated in this study, with 99.0% response rate. The lifetime prevalence of SSB consumption was higher in the rural (96%), than in urban area (85.9%). This is significantly associated with the location of respondents (χ2=55.875; p =0.001). Similarly, the current prevalence of SSB consumption was higher in the rural (77.6%), than in urban area (74.6%). Age (AOR=0.47, 95%CI=0.23-0.99) and mother’s education (AOR=8.80, 95%CI=1.35-57.41) were predictors of SSB consumption among adolescents in the rural area, while ethnicity was the only predictor of SSB consumption among adolescents in the urban area (AOR=0.12, 95%CI=0.02-0.95). Conclusion: The prevalence of SSB consumption (lifetime and current) was high among adolescents both in the rural and urban groups. Efforts should be made to institute strategies to reduce SSB consumption, and also provide nutrition education to adolescents, that will influence them in making healthier food choices.