title: Area disparity in children's perceptions of access to tobacco and cigarette purchasing experiences in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescents who perceive easy access to tobacco are more likely to acquire cigarettes and experience smoking. This study assesses area disparities in perceptions of access to tobacco and cigarette purchasing experiences among schoolchildren.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on children's tobacco-related variables were obtained from the Control of School-Aged Children Smoking Study Survey in Taiwan. A stratified random sample of 65 primary schools was included. Polytomous logistic regression analyzed factors associated with tobacco accessibility and purchasing experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than half of the children reported that tobacco retailers often or always sold cigarettes to them. Rural and mountainous children were more likely to have access to cigarettes (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.01 and 3.01, respectively) and have cigarette purchasing experiences (AOR = 3.06 and 13.76, respectively). Cigarette purchasing from retailers (AOR = 1.84) was significantly associated with children's perceptions of access to tobacco. The factors associated with cigarette purchasing experiences were families smoking (AOR = 8.90), peers smoking (AOR = 2.22), frequent exposure to entertainer smoking on TV and in films (AOR = 2.15), and perceived access to tobacco (AOR = 1.51).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The health department should strictly enforce laws regarding retailers selling tobacco to underage, particularly in remote areas. Schools can reinforce tobacco-use prevention messages.
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Student, (LeeHeng1022@gmail.com), School of Dentistry & Department of Oral Hygiene, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung City 80708, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chih-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Fu-Li
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yea-Yin
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Pi-Li
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Chien-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wu-Der
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Di-Lin
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hsiao-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003132:Commerce; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000600:supply & distribution*
keywords: accessibility; area disparity; children; elementary school; smoking