Water is K'é: Multi-level Intervention to Promote Healthy Beverage Choices Among Navajo Families

Water is K'é is a culturally-grounded, family-based intervention designed to promote healthy beverage consumption among Navajo families. Delivered by early child education (ECE) staff, Water is K'é includes three strategies: promoting Diné (Navajo) culture through intergenerational sharing, increasing health literacy about water and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and increasing drinking water access in both home and ECE settings. Activities consist of a lesson plan for children and caregivers, a tailored access plan to promote confidence in water quality at home and ECE sites; and a social media campaign. Water is K'é is guided by the conceptual framework of the Navajo Wellness Model, addressing four aspects: spiritual; sustenance; family and kinship (K'é); and the environment. The intervention's goal is to promote healthy behaviors and intergenerational sharing of cultural teachings about water, resulting in better health among family members and greater family cohesion overall.

This prospective cluster-randomized trial evaluates the impact of Water is K'é on healthy beverage consumption, health outcomes, and family cohesion. A total of 25 ECE sites will be enrolled in the study, serving in the waitlist group for one year, and then the intervention group the following year based on random assignment. Stepwise roll-out will ensure adequate bandwidth to support intervention sites, while also gathering control data from waitlist sites. Primary caregivers will consent for themselves and the child who is enrolled in the ECE program; other family members will be invited to enroll in the study as well. Each site will enroll approximately 11 families per year, resulting in a total enrollment of 440 families (220 in the intervention group, 220 in the control group) and follow them for 12 months to evaluate the impact on behaviors (beverage consumption patterns) and health outcomes (body mass index, A1c among adults living with diabetes or pre-diabetes) of children and adults. In addition, convergent parallel mixed methods will be used to explore whether Water is K'é results in greater family cohesion through intergenerational cultural continuity. Specific aims are:

• Evaluate the impact of Water is K'é on children aged 2 to 5. Hypothesis: participating children will have healthier beverage habits and body mass indices compared with children in the control group.
• Evaluate intervention impact on the health of other family members. Hypothesis: participating individuals will have healthier beverage habits and body mass indices compared with the control group.
• Evaluate the intervention's impact on family well-being. Hypothesis: participating families will have stronger family cohesion through strengthening of intergenerational cultural continuity compared with families in the control group.

Inclusion criteria

• At least one of the following: child enrolled in participating early child education (ECE) program between 2 and 5 years of age; primary caregiver of that child (i.e. identifies as the person who assumes primary caregiver responsibilities of and resides in the same household as the child; or family member aged six or older identified by primary caregiver as an individual in the immediate family who either resides in the same household or visits frequently and day to day interactions with child);
• Plans to reside in the same household for the next 12 months
• If enrolled in ECE program, plans to participate in ECE program for the entire school year

Exclusion criteria

• Plans to leave their residence in the next 12 months
• If enrolled in ECE program, does not plan to participate in ECE program for the entire school year