Tobacco retailer density and rurality across four US states: California, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Ohio.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Research has demonstrated many types of disparities in tobacco retailer density (TRD), but these analyses often fail to explore rural disparities. Given the substantial burden of rural tobacco use in the USA, this is a critical gap. The purpose of the present study was to estimate rural disparities in TRD across four US states.

Methods

For the states of California, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Ohio, we used spatial statistical methods to model per capita TRD at the census tract level. Rurality was defined by the US Department of Agriculture Rural-Uran Commuting Area (RUCA) codes and categorized into Metropolitan, Micropolitan, Small Town, and Rural.

Findings

Tobacco retailer count was highest in California (22,533), but TRD was highest in Connecticut (1.23

SUBMITTER: Webb E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12357071 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature