Limitations of Data Collection Methods in National Health Survey

Question one:
i. The sample of approximately represented 21,300 people from 16,400 private
dwellings across Australia.
Two groups that were excluded from this survey include;
a. People from very remote areas of Australia.
b. Non-private dwellings such as hotels.
ii. Data was collected for under 15-year-old children by involving proxies. A proxy
refers to a person who answers survey questions on behalf of others.
iii. A limitation for the use of the method of data collection in (ii) above is that the
respondent providing responses on behalf of another may provide wrong information
regarding the subject under study.
iv. According to the National Health Survey Sugar Sweetened drinks are defined as soft
drinks, cordials, sports drinks or caffeinated energy drinks. Sugar sweetened drinks
may include soft drinks in ready to drink alcoholic beverages.
v. The definition of sugar sweetened drinks excludes fruit juice, flavored milk, 'sugar
free' drinks, or coffee/hot tea. This may give rise to bias in the study of drinks that are
thought to cause obesity.
Question two:
i. The highest proportion of children between 14-17 years, representing 42.5 % do not
consume sugar sweetened beverages. The second highest proportion of children,
representing 38.3 % consume sugar sweetened beverages 1-3 times a week. The third
highest proportion of children who represented 12.4 % consume sugar sweetened

beverages on daily. The lowest proportion of children representing 7.3% consume
sugar sweetened beverages 4-6 times a week (Austratlian Bureau of Statistics, 2018).
ii. There exists a linear trend between age and the consumption of sugar sweetened
beverages on daily basis. Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages on daily basis
increases with increase in age. The percentage increases from 4.1 % for the age group
2-3 years to 12.4% for the age group 14-17 years.
iii. This change is primarily accounted by females. This is because as females advance in
age, they tend to become more attracted to sugary foods.
iv. The highest proportion of children who take sugary meals lie in the age bracket 14-17
years. This age bracket should therefore be highly educated on the significance of too
much sugar in causing obesity, more so females that lie in this age bracket.
Question three
i. This is a qualitative research study. The study tries to investigate perceptions (which
are qualitative) of children of sugar sweetened beverages. This characteristic makes
this a qualitative study (Lewis, 2015).
ii. Lack of awareness was not a main factor in the overconsumption of sugar sweetened
beverages. Results of the study, however, suggest that the dominant factors that
influenced children's beverage choices and consumption patterns included taste,
parental control practices, accessibility, and advertising.
iii. Four factors that influence children’s consumption of sugar sweetened beverages are;
taste, parental control practices, accessibility, and advertising.
iv. It is important to include the conflict of interest information as it helps in eliminating
bias from future studies.