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. 2016 May:39:153-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.04.001. Epub 2016 Apr 22.

Rural tobacco use across the United States: How rural and urban areas differ, broken down by census regions and divisions

Megan E Roberts  1 , Nathan J Doogan  2 , Allison N Kurti  3 , Ryan Redner  4 , Diann E Gaalema  3 , Cassandra A Stanton  5 , Thomas J White  3 , Stephen T Higgins  3
Affiliations

Rural tobacco use across the United States: How rural and urban areas differ, broken down by census regions and divisions

Megan E Roberts et al. Health Place. 2016 May.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Disparities; Rural health; Tobacco use.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
U.S. Census regions and divisions. Shading in this figure is merely for artistic purposes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Illustrative map of rural:urban ratios in tobacco use. As enumerated in the legend, darker shades indicates greater rural use, compared to urban use. The gray background color corresponds to a 1:1 rural-to-urban ratio.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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