The neighbourhood effects of geographical access to tobacco retailers on individual smoking behaviour

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether neighbourhood measures of geographical accessibility to outlets selling tobacco (supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations) are associated with individual smoking behaviour in New Zealand. Methods:Using Geographical Information Systems, travel times from the population-weighted centroid of each neighbourhood to the closest outlet selling tobacco were calculated for all 38,350 neighbourhoods across New Zealand. These measures were appended to the 2002/03 New Zealand Health Survey; a national survey of 12,529 adults. Two-level logistic regression models were fitted to examine the effects of neighbourhood locational access upon individual smoking behaviour after controlling for potential individual-and neighbourhood-level confounding factors, including deprivation and urban/rural status.Results: After controlling for individual-level demographic and socioeconomic variables, individuals living in the quartiles of neighbourhoods with the best access to supermarkets (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06-1.42) and convenience stores (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.03-1.38) had a higher odds of smoking compared to individuals in the worst access quartiles. However, the association between neighbourhood accessibility to supermarkets and convenience stores was not apparent once other neighbourhood-level variables (deprivation and rurality) were included. Conclusions:At the national level, there is little evidence to suggest that after adjustment for neighbourhood deprivation better locational access to tobacco retail provision in New Zealand is associated with individual-level smoking behaviour.

Neighbourhood deprivation and outlet density for tobacco, alcohol and fast food: first hints of obesogenic and addictive environments in Germany

“…The comparatively extensive area of investigation and the topicality, thoroughness and validity of the data collection are further strengths of this study. In this way we have fulfilled the stipulations of several authors who had previously questioned the validity of the data (such as selected outlets, register data or participant reports (18,21,(53)(54)(55) ) and criticized the lack of cartographic GIS mapping in similar studies (19) .…”

The Influence of Selective Migration Patterns Among Smokers and Nonsmokers on Geographical Inequalities in Health

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Availability of convenience stores and adolescent alcohol use in Taiwan: a multi-level analysis of national surveys

“…The GIS has been utilized as an approach to assess differential access to substances and to examine the spatial relationships of ecological factors [50,51]. In the present study, we could quantify the availability of convenience stores around a school and explore its correlation with students' alcohol use.…”