Abstract
Objectives
To characterize the distribution of vaping retailers and examine the association between neighbourhood income and vaping retailer availability in Ontario prior to and after regulatory changes to the vaping market in 2018.
Methods
We quantified vaping access by number of vaping retailers for 19,964 dissemination areas (DAs) in Ontario and percentage of schools near a vaping retailer. We used mixed-effects regression models to examine the associations between vaping access and neighbourhood income in 2018 and 2019.
Results
Between 2016 and 2019, the number of vaping retailers in Ontario increased by 22.6% (5999 to 7355), despite a mild drop from 2016 to 2018. In 2019, 59.7% of urban neighbourhoods had one or more vaping retailers within 1000 m of their geographic centre, and 79.4% of elementary, 82.8% of secondary, and 84.2% of post-secondary schools had at least one within 1000 m. Neighbourhood income was associated with access to vaping retailers, with a greater number in low-income regions. In 2019, neighbourhoods in the lowest income quintile had over twice the number of vaping retailers per capita within 1000 m compared to the highest income quintile (adjusted incidence rate ratio 2.40; 95% CI 2.24–2.58). Increases over time in access to vaping retailers did not differ by geographic region, neighbourhood income quintile, or school type.
Conclusion
We observed a substantial increase in access to vaping retailers in Ontario including proximity to elementary and secondary schools following the 2018 provincial marketing regulations and federal nicotine regulations. Access to vaping was greatest in low-income neighbourhoods and may contribute to established inequities in vaping-related adverse events.
Résumé
Objectifs
Caractériser la répartition des détaillants de vapotage et examiner l’association entre le revenu du quartier et la disponibilité des détaillants de vapotage en Ontario avant et après les modifications réglementaires du marché du vapotage en 2018.
Méthodes
Nous avons quantifié l’accès au vapotage selon le nombre de détaillants de vapotage pour 19 964 aires de diffusion (DA) en Ontario et le pourcentage d’écoles à proximité d’un détaillant de vapotage. Nous avons utilisé des modèles de régression à effets mixtes pour examiner les associations entre l’accès au vapotage et le revenu du quartier en 2018 et 2019.
Résultats
Entre 2016 et 2019, le nombre de détaillants de vapotage en Ontario a augmenté de 22,6 % (5 999 à 7 355), malgré une légère baisse de 2016 à 2018. En 2019, 59,7 % des quartiers urbains avaient un ou plusieurs détaillants de vapotage à moins de 1 000 m de leur centre géographique, et 79,4 % des écoles élémentaires, 82,8 % des écoles secondaires et 84,2 % des écoles postsecondaires en avaient au moins un détaillant à moins de 1 000 m. Le revenu du quartier était associé à l’accès aux détaillants, avec plus de détaillants dans les régions à faible revenu. En 2019, les quartiers du quintile de revenu le plus bas comptaient plus de deux fois plus de détaillants de vapotage par habitant dans un rayon de 1 000 m par rapport au quintile le plus élevé (rapport de taux d’incidence ajusté 2,40; IC à 95 % 2,24-2,58). Les augmentations au fil du temps de l’accès aux détaillants de vapotage ne différaient pas selon la région géographique, le quintile de revenu du quartier ou le type d’école.
Conclusion
Nous avons observé une augmentation significative de l’accès aux détaillants de vapotage en Ontario, y compris la proximité des écoles primaires et secondaires à la suite des nouvelles réglementations provinciales sur le marketing et de la réglementation fédérale sur la nicotine en 2018. L’accès au vapotage était le plus élevé dans les quartiers à faible revenu et pourrait contribuer aux inégalités par rapport aux événements indésirables lié au vapotage et tabac.
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Seale and Myran conceived the original idea. Seale performed a background literature review. Seale and Myran designed the study and interpreted the results. Seale and Sturrock performed the statistical analyses. Seale and Myran drafted the manuscript, and all authors provided critical feedback to prepare the final manuscript. All of the authors gave final approval of the version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
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Seale, E., Sturrock, S.L., Widener, M.J. et al. The availability and distribution of vaping retailers across Ontario neighbourhoods, 2016–2019. Can J Public Health 114, 493–501 (2023). https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-022-00718-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-022-00718-5