Understanding, response and support regarding the health promotion levy among urban consumers employed at primary and secondary schools in Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Obesity can be highly attributed to the excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). The Health Promotion Levy (HPL) was introduced in South Africa (SA) in April 2018, increasing the price of SSBs with the aim to reduce consumption of SSBs. The current study aimed to assess the understanding, response and support regarding the HPL among urban consumers employed at primary and secondary schools in Pietermaritzburg (PMB), KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The objectives were to determine (i) consumer demographics (ii) awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of the HPL, (iii) responses to the HPL in terms of purchasing behaviour, (iv) whether the national corona virus disease (COVID-19) level four to five lockdown contributed to increased sugar intake from SSBs, (v) perceptions and attitudes regarding obesity and its causes and (vi) which obesity preventative strategies were believed to complement the HPL. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 13 schools where the consumers answered a self-administered consumer questionnaire (SACQ). Almost all consumed SSBs, however, less than half were aware of the HPL. Consumers have not changed their SSB purchasing behaviours since the HPL implementation and did not increase their SSB consumption during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Consumers were aware that obesity is a serious condition and perceived the HPL positively.