ABSTRACT

Background:
Beverage choices significantly impact the health of women of childbearing age (WCBA). Despite growing scientific interest, comprehensive global analyses of beverage consumption patterns in this population remain limited. We aimed to evaluate global beverage consumption patterns among WCBA and investigate their relationships with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) from 1990 to 2018.

Methods:
This study analyzed beverage consumption data across 185 countries using the Global Dietary Database 2018. Five beverage categories (sugar-sweetened beverages [SSBs], coffee, fruit juices, tea, and milk) were assessed among WCBA across seven global regions. Consumption metrics were calculated using weighted methodologies integrating population statistics, with 95% uncertainty intervals established through Monte Carlo simulations. Multi-level analyses examined consumption patterns at the global, regional, and national levels. Spearman correlation analysis evaluated relationships between the SDI and consumption patterns.

Results:
In 2018, the global mean intake of SSBs was 120.47 g/d of SSBs, 0.68 cup/d of coffee, 17.16 g/d of fruit juices, 0.85 cup/d of tea, and 81.87 g/d of milk. Total beverage consumption showed global variation, with intake ranging from 1 to 2 servings in South and Southeast Asia to 3 to 4 servings in high-income countries. Between 1990 and 2018, consumption increased across most beverage types, except for fruit juices, which decreased by 13.1%. Significant regional disparities are evident in age-related intake patterns. Milk consumption demonstrated the strongest positive correlation with SDI (r = 0.73), while SSB consumption showed varied associations across development levels.

Conclusions:
Substantial global variations in beverage consumption among WCBA highlight the need for targeted interventions and policies considering regional socioeconomic differences.

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