Sociodemographic Disparities in Tobacco Retailer Density in the United States, 2000-2017.
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
Mills
SD, Kong AY, Reimold AE, Baggett CD, Wiesen CA, Golden SD.
Sociodemographic Disparities
in Tobacco Retailer Density in the United States, 2000-2017.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2022;24(8):1291-1299. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntac020
Introduction. Studies
find differences in tobacco retailer density according to neighborhood
sociodemographic characteristics, raising issues of social justice, but not all
research is consistent.
Aims and methods. This
study examined associations between tobacco retailer density and neighborhood
sociodemographic characteristics in the United States at four timepoints (2000,
2007, 2012, and 2017) and investigated if associations remained stable over
time. Data on tobacco retailers came from the National Establishment
Time-Series Database. Adjusted log-linear models examined the relationship
between retailer density and census tract sociodemographic characteristics (%
non-Hispanic Black [Black], % Hispanic, % vacant housing units, median
household income), controlling for percentage of youth, urbanicity, and US
region. To examine whether the relationship between density and sociodemographic
characteristics changed over time, additional models were estimated with
interaction terms between each sociodemographic characteristic and year.
Results. Tobacco
retailer density ranged from 1.22 to 1.44 retailers/1000 persons from 2000 to
2017. There were significant, positive relationships between tobacco retailer
density and the percentage of Black (standardized exp(b) = 1.05 [95% CI: 1.04%
to 1.07%]) and Hispanic (standardized exp(b) = 1.06 [95% CI: 1.05% to 1.08%])
residents and the percentage of vacant housing units (standardized exp(b) =1.08
[95% CI: 1.07% to 1.10%]) in a census tract. Retailer density was negatively
associated with income (standardized exp(b) = 0.84 [95% CI: 0.82% to 0.86%]).
From 2000 to 2017, the relationship between retailer density and income and
vacant housing units became weaker.
Conclusions. Despite
the weakening of some associations, there are sociodemographic disparities in
tobacco retailer density from 2000 to 2017, which research has shown may
contribute to inequities in smoking.
Implications. This
study examines associations between tobacco retailer density and neighborhood
sociodemographic characteristics in the United States at four timepoints from
2000 to 2017. Although some associations weakened, there are sociodemographic
disparities in tobacco retailer density over the study period. Research
suggests that sociodemographic disparities in retailer density may contribute
to inequities in smoking. Findings from this study may help identify which
communities should be prioritized for policy intervention and regulation.
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