Journal Article

Inequalities in tobacco outlet density by race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, 2012, USA: results from the ASPiRE Study

Sun, Dennis L, Luke, Douglas A, Schleicher, Nina M, Ribisl, Kurt M, Henriksen, Lisa, Lee, Joseph G L

2017

Overview

Background Evidence of racial/ethnic inequalities in tobacco outlet density is limited by: (1) reliance on studies from single counties or states, (2) limited attention to spatial dependence, and (3) an unclear theory-based relationship between neighbourhood composition and tobacco outlet density. Methods In 97 counties from the contiguous USA, we calculated the 2012 density of likely tobacco outlets (N=90 407), defined as tobacco outlets per 1000 population in census tracts (n=17 667). We used 2 spatial regression techniques, (1) a spatial errors approach in GeoDa software and (2) fitting a covariance function to the errors using a distance matrix of all tract centroids. We examined density as a function of race, ethnicity, income and 2 indicators identified from city planning literature to indicate neighbourhood stability (vacant housing, renter-occupied housing). Results The average density was 1.3 tobacco outlets per 1000 persons. Both spatial regression approaches yielded similar results. In unadjusted models, tobacco outlet density was positively associated with the proportion of black residents and negatively associated with the proportion of Asian residents, white residents and median household income. There was no association with the proportion of Hispanic residents. Indicators of neighbourhood stability explained the disproportionate density associated with black residential composition, but inequalities by income persisted in multivariable models. Conclusions Data from a large sample of US counties and results from 2 techniques to address spatial dependence strengthen evidence of inequalities in tobacco outlet density by race and income. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms in order to strengthen interventions.

• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd,BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subject: Commerce - statistics & numerical data / Density / Discount department stores / Grocery stores / Health disparities / Housing / Humans / Income / Minority & ethnic groups / Research report / Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data / Smoking - epidemiology / Social Class / Socioeconomic factors / Socioeconomic status / Socioeconomics / Studies / Tobacco / Tobacco Industry / Tobacco Products - statistics & numerical data / Tobacco Products - supply & distribution / United States / Urban planning