Rural tobacco use across the United States: How rural and urban areas differ, broken down by census regions and divisions.
This project compared urban/rural differences in tobacco use, and examined how such differences vary across regions/divisions of the U.S. Using pooled 2012-2013 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), we obtained weighted prevalence estimates for the use of cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, cigars, and pipes. NSDUH also provides information on participants' residence: rural vs. urban, and Census region and division. Overall, use of cigarettes, chew, and snuff were higher in rural, compared to urban areas. Across all tobacco products, urban/rural differences were particularly pronounced in certain divisions (e.g., the South Atlantic). Effects did not appear to be fully explained by differences in poverty. Going beyond previous research, these findings show that urban/rural differences vary across different types of tobacco products, as well as by division of the country. Results underscore the need for regulatory efforts that will reduce health disparities.
College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address: Roberts.1558@OSU.edu.
Megan E
ME
Roberts
College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Nathan J
NJ
Doogan
Vermont Center on Tobacco Regulatory Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
Allison N
AN
Kurti
Vermont Center on Tobacco Regulatory Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA; Rehabilitation Institute, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA.
Ryan
R
Redner
Vermont Center on Tobacco Regulatory Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
Diann E
DE
Gaalema
Westat, Center for Evaluation and Coordination of Training and Research (CECTR) in Tobacco Regulatory Science, Rockville, MD, USA; Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center/Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington D.C., USA.
Cassandra A
CA
Stanton
Vermont Center on Tobacco Regulatory Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
Thomas J
TJ
White
Vermont Center on Tobacco Regulatory Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
Stephen T
ST
Higgins
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019352:Censuses; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Disparities; Rural health; Tobacco use