OBJECTIVE
To analyze physical availability and affordability of tobacco and tobacco products in three constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We assessed the actual status of urban infrastructure in Arkhangelsk, Tver and Sverdlovsk regions. Data were collected in 3 districts of Arkhangelsk, 3 districts of Tver, 3 districts of Yekaterinburg and in Revda city, where participants of the ESSE-RF3 (2021) study lived. Study objects were urban infrastructure elements where tobacco and tobacco products were sold. To assess the infrastructure, we developed special software for collection and analysis of data using Open Street Maps. Data collection took place in January-March 2022.
RESULTS
There were 726 tobacco outlets (TOs): 182 in Arkhangelsk, 303 in Yekaterinburg and Revda, 241 in Tver. Tobacco was usually available for purchase in checkout areas of supermarkets or grocery stores (n=573, 78.9%). The median number of TOs within 1000 meters from the place of residence of participants was 18, within 400 meters — 4. In Arkhangelsk, tobacco was sold in a grocery store located in the same building with a college branch. In Sverdlovsk region, the closest TO was within 64 meters from a kindergarten, in Tver region — within 44 meters from a college. Median of the lowest price for one pack of cigarettes was 120 rubles [110; 179].
CONCLUSION
We assessed physical availability and affordability of tobacco in Arkhangelsk, Yekaterinburg, Revda and Tver. These results characterize high physical availability and affordability of tobacco and outline the need for interventions at the level of state and local authorities. The method for collecting and analyzing data on urban infrastructure appeared effective and may be used in similar studies.
