Density of cigarette retailers near facilities for children and adolescents in urban and rural areas in Indonesia: a geospatial analysis

Abstract

The lack of regulation banning cigarette retailers near facilities for children and adolescents has made cigarettes easily accessible to youth in Indonesia. This study aimed to investigate the density of cigarette retailer near children and adolescent facilities in urban and rural areas in the country. We mapped all cigarette retailers and facilities for children and adolescents in Surabaya city (urban) and Banyuwangi district (rural) in East Java province. All types of facilities for children and adolescents and retailers visible from the streets in the study areas were mapped. We conducted geospatial analysis of the density of retailers to the facilities for children and adolescents in QGIS 2.8 and STATA 14. We found that the density of cigarette retailers was 81% higher in the areas within 100 m from the facilities for children and adolescents, compared with the areas within 100 to 250 m from facilities. We also found that the density of cigarette retailers within 100 m from facilities was 2.35 times higher in the rural setting, compared with the urban setting. Controlling cigarette retailers through zoning and licensing is urgently needed in Indonesia.