The environmental profile of a community’s health: A cross-sectional study on tobacco marketing in 16 countries; [Profil environnemental de la santé d’une communauté: étude transversale sur le marketing du tabac dans 16 pays]; [El perfil ambiental de la salud de una comunidad: Un estudio transversal sobre la publicidad del tabaco en 16 países]

• Published in: Bulletin of the World Health Organization
• Main Author: Savell E.; Gilmore A.B.; Sims M.; Mony P.K.; Koon T.; Yusoff K.; Lear S.A.; Seron P.; Ismail N.; Calik K.B.T.; Rosengren A.; Bahonar A.; Kumar R.; Vijayakumar K.; Kruger A.; Swidan H.; Gupta R.; Igumbor E.; Afridi A.; Rahman O.; Chifamba J.; Zatonska K.; Mohan V.; Mohan D.; Lopez-Jaramillo P.; Avezum A.; Poirier P.; Orlandini A.; Li W.; McKee M.; Rangarajan S.; Yusuf S.; Chow C.K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: World Health Organization 2015
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84948962084&doi=10.2471%2fBLT.15.155846&partnerID=40&md5=789056bbdeecf47b04b2f036fb24d95a

Objective To examine and compare tobacco marketing in 16 countries while the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requires parties to implement a comprehensive ban on such marketing. Methods Between 2009 and 2012, a kilometre-long walk was completed by trained investigators in 462 communities across 16 countries to collect data on tobacco marketing. We interviewed community members about their exposure to traditional and non-traditional marketing in the previous six months. To examine differences in marketing between urban and rural communities and between high-, middle- and low-income countries, we used multilevel regression models controlling for potential confounders. Findings Compared with high-income countries, the number of tobacco advertisements observed was 81 times higher in low-income countries (incidence rate ratio, IRR: 80.98; 95% confidence interval, CI: 4.15–1578.42) and the number of tobacco outlets was 2.5 times higher in both low- and lower-middle-income countries (IRR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.17–5.67 and IRR: 2.52; CI: 1.23–5.17, respectively). Of the 11 842 interviewees, 1184 (10%) reported seeing at least five types of tobacco marketing. Self-reported exposure to at least one type of traditional marketing was 10 times higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries (odds ratio, OR: 9.77; 95% CI: 1.24–76.77). For almost all measures, marketing exposure was significantly lower in the rural communities than in the urban communities. Conclusion Despite global legislation to limit tobacco marketing, it appears ubiquitous. The frequency and type of tobacco marketing varies on the national level by income group and by community type, appearing to be greatest in low-income countries and urban communities. © 2015, World Health Organization.