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Tobacco Outlet Density and Demographics at the Tract Level of Analysis in Iowa: Implications for Environmentally Based Prevention Initiatives

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This study assessed the geographic association between tobacco outlet density and three demographic correlates—income, race, and ethnicity—at the tract level of analysis for one county in the Midwestern United States. Data for residential census tracts in a Midwestern U.S. county were derived from year 2003 licenses for 474 tobacco outlets. Demographic variables were based on 2000 census data. Census tracts with lower median household income, higher percent of African American residents, and higher percent of Latinos residents had greater density of tobacco selling retail outlets. Areas characterized by lower income and disproportionately more African Americans and Latinos have greater physical access to tobacco products. Physical access to tobacco is a critical public-health issue because, given that smokers have been shown to be price sensitive, lowering access costs (e.g., reduced travel time) is likely to increase consumption. Findings also suggest the need for structural or environmental interventions, i.e., tobacco outlet zoning laws, to mitigate the health consequences associated with tobacco use in certain populations and geographic regions.

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Notes

  1. Also refer to an unpublished working paper: Lowe, J.B., Peterson, N.A., Nothwehr, F., Aquilino, M., & McKenna, A.R. (2004). Disparities in the Availability of Tobacco - A Demographic Link. University of Iowa.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Dr. Schneider is supported by a Merit Review Entry Program Award (MRP 020111) and an Investigator Initiated Award (IIR 020111) from the Health Services Research and Development Service, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs. The authors would like to thank Lauren Tucker Huber and Kaley Sholes for their very helpful research assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Management and Policy, Core Investigator, Center for Research in the Implementation of Innovative Strategies in Practice (CRIISP), University of Iowa and Iowa City VA Medical Center, Iowa, USA

    John E. Schneider Ph.D. (Assistant Professor)

  2. Department of Family and Child Studies, College of Education and Human Services, Montclair State University, Montclair, USA

    Robert J. Reid Ph.D. (Assistant Professor)

  3. Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA

    N. Andrew Peterson Ph.D. (Assistant Professor) & John B. Lowe Dr.P.H. (Professor and Head)

  4. Department of Psychology and Department of Urban Planning and Design, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri, USA

    Joseph Hughey Ph.D. (Professor)

  5. Department of Health Management & Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health, 200 Hawkins Drive, E204 GH, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, USA

    John E. Schneider Ph.D. (Assistant Professor)

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  1. John E. Schneider Ph.D.
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Correspondence to John E. Schneider Ph.D..

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Schneider, J.E., Reid, R.J., Peterson, N.A. et al. Tobacco Outlet Density and Demographics at the Tract Level of Analysis in Iowa: Implications for Environmentally Based Prevention Initiatives. Prev Sci 6, 319–325 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-005-0016-z

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