Examining the News Media Reaction to a National Sugary Beverage Tax in South Africa: A Quantitative Content Analysis

Citation

Essman, Michael; Stoltze, Fernanda Mediano; Carpentier, Francesca R. Dillman; Swart, Elizabeth C.; & Taillie, Lindsey Smith (2021). Examining the News Media Reaction to a National Sugary Beverage Tax in South Africa: A Quantitative Content Analysis. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 454. PMCID: PMC7937301

Abstract

Background: South Africa was the first sub-Saharan African country to implement a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax called the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) in April 2018. Given news media can increase public awareness and sway opinions, this study analyzed how the media represented the HPL, including expressions of support or challenge, topics associated with the levy, and stakeholder views of the HPL.
Methods: We performed a quantitative content analysis of online South African news articles related to the HPL published between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019. We coded the presence or absence of mentions related to health and economic effects of the HPL and HPL support or opposition. Prevalence of these mentions, overall and by source (industry, government, academics, other), were analyzed with Pearson

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10460-1

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2021

Journal Title

BMC Public Health

Author(s)

Essman, Michael
Stoltze, Fernanda Mediano
Carpentier, Francesca R. Dillman
Swart, Elizabeth C.
Taillie, Lindsey Smith

Article Type

Regular

PMCID

PMC7937301

Continent/Country

South Africa

ORCiD

Taillie - 0000-0002-4555-2525
Essman - 0000-0001-5017-3880