Predictors of Caffeine Consumption among Young Women

Abstract

Designing a meaningful nutritional educational massages and introducing a real changes in food behaviors need to address predictors determining consumption. In the subject of caffeine teratogenic effects on the health of women at childbearing age, important factors such as the women's knowledge, attitude and practices which may influence the level of caffeine consumption need to be investigated. This study involved 112 Saudi non-pregnant young women with main age of 26& plusmn;1.85 years whom were reported as heavy coffee and soda drinkers. All study participants consume more than 100mg/day of caffeine with a mean range of 258±156 - 305±204 mg/day. Soft drinks provide the highest amount of caffeine, 401±113 - 540±60 mg, for around 56-81% of the studied group. The caffeine consumption data were gathered and calculated using the 24-hour recalls and the beverage-frequency methods. The results indicated that the two methods were significantly correlated (Pearson r = 076, P ~ 0.01). An attitude concerning the difficulty associated with limiting coffee consumption was the strongest predictor of caffeine consumption but a weak positive correlation between caffeine consumption and other attitude related to caffeine use during pregnancy. No correlation between caffeine consumption and knowledge about caffeine and a negative association existed between knowledge about caffeine and attitude toward use of caffeine during pregnancy. No relationship between knowledge about caffeine and attitude toward the importance of dietary awareness.