TY - JOUR
T1 - Inequitable Distribution of FTP Marketing by Neighborhood Characteristics
T2 - Further Evidence for Targeted Marketing
AU - Rose, Shyanika W.
AU - Anesetti-Rothermel, Andrew
AU - Westneat, Susan
AU - Van De Venne, Judy
AU - Folger, Shanell
AU - Rahman, Basmah
AU - Azam, Tofial
AU - Zhou, Yitong
AU - Debnam, Charles
AU - Ribisl, Kurt
AU - Cohn, Amy M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.
PY - 2022/4/1
Y1 - 2022/4/1
N2 - Introduction: Flavored tobacco products (FTPs) are disproportionately used among young people and racial/ethnic minority populations. However, few studies have examined the retail distribution of such product marketing beyond menthol cigarettes. This study created geographic-based predictions about marketing of FTPs (overall, cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, and smokeless) in stores across Washington, DC neighborhoods. We examined neighborhood-level demographic correlates of the amount of FTP and non-FTP marketing. Methods: We conducted photographic audits of interior and exterior tobacco marketing in 96 Washington, DC tobacco retailers visited by 149 young adult respondents between 2018-2019. We created a geographic predictive surface of overall and product-specific tobacco marketing and then estimated the average predicted amount of marketing at the census-Tract level using zonal statistics. Using linear regression, we examined neighborhood demographic correlates (race/ethnicity, family poverty, and youth population under 18) of FTP and non-FTP marketing. Results: The predicted amount of non-FTP ads/displays were evenly distributed with no neighborhood variability (Range 8.46-8.46). FTP marketing overall was geographically concentrated with greater range across neighborhoods (Range 6.27-16.77). Greater FTP marketing overall and flavored cigar marketing was available in neighborhoods with higher percentages of Black residents. Flavored cigar marketing was less available in neighborhoods with more Hispanic residents, but there was greater flavored smokeless tobacco marketing. Nonflavored marketing overall and by product did not vary across neighborhoods. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of disproportionate distribution of FTP marketing in Black neighborhoods, especially for flavored cigars, at the point-of-sale. Policies that restrict the sale of FTPs may enhance health equity. Implications: Tobacco marketing has frequently been shown to be more prevalent in neighborhoods with lower household income and more Black residents. Using geographic-based predictions, we find that greater flavored tobacco marketing in these neighborhoods, not decreased marketing for nonflavored tobacco, is driving this disparity. Targeting Black neighborhoods with increased marketing of flavored tobacco products, which has been found to be more appealing, easier to use, and harder to quit is a social justice issue.
AB - Introduction: Flavored tobacco products (FTPs) are disproportionately used among young people and racial/ethnic minority populations. However, few studies have examined the retail distribution of such product marketing beyond menthol cigarettes. This study created geographic-based predictions about marketing of FTPs (overall, cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, and smokeless) in stores across Washington, DC neighborhoods. We examined neighborhood-level demographic correlates of the amount of FTP and non-FTP marketing. Methods: We conducted photographic audits of interior and exterior tobacco marketing in 96 Washington, DC tobacco retailers visited by 149 young adult respondents between 2018-2019. We created a geographic predictive surface of overall and product-specific tobacco marketing and then estimated the average predicted amount of marketing at the census-Tract level using zonal statistics. Using linear regression, we examined neighborhood demographic correlates (race/ethnicity, family poverty, and youth population under 18) of FTP and non-FTP marketing. Results: The predicted amount of non-FTP ads/displays were evenly distributed with no neighborhood variability (Range 8.46-8.46). FTP marketing overall was geographically concentrated with greater range across neighborhoods (Range 6.27-16.77). Greater FTP marketing overall and flavored cigar marketing was available in neighborhoods with higher percentages of Black residents. Flavored cigar marketing was less available in neighborhoods with more Hispanic residents, but there was greater flavored smokeless tobacco marketing. Nonflavored marketing overall and by product did not vary across neighborhoods. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of disproportionate distribution of FTP marketing in Black neighborhoods, especially for flavored cigars, at the point-of-sale. Policies that restrict the sale of FTPs may enhance health equity. Implications: Tobacco marketing has frequently been shown to be more prevalent in neighborhoods with lower household income and more Black residents. Using geographic-based predictions, we find that greater flavored tobacco marketing in these neighborhoods, not decreased marketing for nonflavored tobacco, is driving this disparity. Targeting Black neighborhoods with increased marketing of flavored tobacco products, which has been found to be more appealing, easier to use, and harder to quit is a social justice issue.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85125553319&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85125553319&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/ntr/ntab222
DO - 10.1093/ntr/ntab222
M3 - Article
C2 - 34687204
AN - SCOPUS:85125553319
SN - 1462-2203
VL - 24
SP - 484
EP - 492
JO - Nicotine and Tobacco Research
JF - Nicotine and Tobacco Research
IS - 4
ER -