Compliance With Tobacco Control Policy and Visibility of Cigarette Retailers Around Educational Facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Bibliographic Data

ID22070910
AuthorsHala Aljishi (King Fahd Medical City), Dian Kusuma (0000-0002-1909-9341, Imperial College London, corresponding author), Alaa AlQurashi (0000-0003-2631-7535, King Fahd Medical City), Ali AlFaiz (King Fahd Medical City), Abdulaziz Alsaad (0000-0003-1114-4272, King Saud University), Maha Aljishi (King Fahd Medical City)
Year2022
Volume10
Pages713460-713460
Publication date2022-05-30
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.713460
PMID35719605
OpenAlexW4283383584
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited21

Background: In Saudi Arabia, cardiovascular diseases are among the top causes of death and disability, and smoking is one of the leading risk factors, particularly among males. Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the compliance with the anti-smoking law among cigarette retailers and examine the visibility of cigarette retailers around educational facilities in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: We conducted a mapping survey and geospatial analysis of cigarette retailers around educational facilities from February to March 2020 (before the COVID-19 restriction) in Al-Olaya municipality in Riyadh city as a pilot study. We found 249 retailers, of which 152 sold cigarettes. Data analyses in ArcMap 10.6 compared the visibility within 250 and 500 meters from educational facilities. Results: We found many retailers were not compliant with the tobacco control regulation: 57.1% of minimarkets sell cigarettes, 15.8% of cigarette retailers display the products openly, and 12.5% of cigarette retailers sold cigarettes by the stick. Moreover, 71% of the total cigarette retailers were within 500 m from schools, and 62% of all schools had at least one cigarette retailer within 500 m buffer (5-min walking or 2-3-min driving distance). Conclusion: There is non-compliance with the anti-smoking law among cigarette retailers and high visibility of cigarette retailers around educational facilities in Saudi Arabia. Monitoring is needed for the effective implementation of tobacco control policies

Business · Environmental health · Geography · Public health · Tobacco control · Visibility · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Smoking Behavior and Cessation

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