BACKGROUND: The harmful effects of tobacco use have been well documented; however, millions of Americans continue to smoke and public health practitioners have expressed concerns about tobacco retail locations in minority and low-income neighborhoods. This study’s aim was to determine if tobacco retail density was higher in minority and low-income neighborhoods in San Mateo County. The San Mateo County Health Department predicted that neighborhoods with higher percentages of minority populations and lower socioeconomic status had a higher density of tobacco retailers.
METHODS: Tobacco retail data was collected through The Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community census survey of retailers licensed to sell tobacco in 2016. Sociodemographic data was compiled from the 2014 American Community Survey. Tobacco retail density was calculated as number of retailers per square mile by census tract. Spatial grouping analysis (in ArcGIS) was conducted to classify census tracts into high and low tobacco retail density categories, as well as categories based on high and low values of percent race (Asian, Black, Latino, and White), median household income, percent below 200% Federal Poverty Level (FPL), percent with a high school degree or less, and percent unemployed. Census tracts were grouped into one of two categories where census tracts with the most similar attributes were grouped into one category and census tracts with the most differing attributes were grouped into the remaining category. Descriptive statistics were conducted for each group to compare to global values.
RESULTS: The global mean of tobacco retail density per square mile was 5.0 compared to Group 1’s mean of 12.7 and Group 2’s mean of 2.9. Group 1 (high tobacco retail density) contains census tracts with highest values of percent below 200% FPL, percent Latino, percent with a high school degree or less, percent unemployed, and percent Black. Group 2 (low tobacco retail density) contains census tracts with highest values of percent White, median household income, and percent Asian. Spatial grouping analysis findings indicate that tobacco retailers occur in areas in San Mateo County where there are a higher percentage of individuals who are Latino, Black, live below 200% FPL, have a high school degree or less, and are unemployed.
CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhoods with higher percentages of minority populations and lower socioeconomic status are more likely to have a higher tobacco retail density. Public health programs and policies seeking to reduce tobacco use may consider targeting minority and low-income neighborhoods to reduce exposure to tobacco retailers.