The promotion of water consumption among children’s social network at schools in Aruba

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a customized social network randomized control trial promoting water consumption among primary schools (grade 5 and 6) in Aruba, a Caribbean island. This design utilizes key findings of two previous conducted studies on this specific topic in this Caribbean setting: A social network based intervention study and a theory based water consumption determinants study. The intervention consists of sociometrically selecting influential children and discuss the benefits of water consumption and training them to promote water consumption among their classmates for a period of eight weeks. The control group will not receive any intervention. The consumption of water and sugar sweetened beverages of children will be measured at pre- and post-intervention.

Children in the intervention group will consume (a) more water and (b) less sugar sweetened beverages after the intervention compared to the control group.

Pre-intervention measurement: January 2019

Post-intervention measurement: March 2019

Participating primary schools will be randomized in an intervention group and a control group. The intervention uses influential children because of their impact on their social network at schools. The intervention consists of two main components: (1) Nominating children sociometrically by their own classmates through a questionnaire; and (2) Training the influential peers to take up the role of peer influencers to promote water consumption among their classmates for eight weeks. The control group will receive no treatment. During the training session the peer influencers will: (a) Share their existing knowledge regarding water consumption and sugar content of sugar sweetened beverages; (b) Receive additional knowledge regarding health and environmental benefits of water consumption; (c) Be motivated to practice modelling water consumption behavior around their classmates; (d) Be motivated to practice messaging (communicate verbally) with their classmates about the benefits of water consumption; (e) Be encouraged to formulate their own arguments and their own ways to informally motivate their classmates to consume more water.