Consumption behavior of sugar-sweetened beverages among primary and secondary school students: a qualitative study based on teachers' perspectives

This study investigates the factors influencing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among primary and secondary school students in China from the perspective of teachers. A total of 56 teachers participated in face-to-face interviews, including both individual interviews and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using the grounded theory approach with three levels of coding. The analysis yielded 39 subcategories, 15 categories, and five main categories: individual, interpersonal, environmental, societal, and policy levels. The six most frequently mentioned categories were teachers' knowledge and attitudes (128 references), school health education (96 references), drivers of sugary beverage consumption (56 references), students' individual awareness (53 references), the school food environment (40 references), and home-school collaboration (39 references). A core theme was identified: the multilevel factors of students' sugary beverage consumption based on teachers' perspectives. We conclude that school based health education interventions and efforts to enhance home-school collaboration are crucial for reducing sugary beverage consumption among primary and secondary school students.