Using GIS to help community advocates identify target areas for tobacco policy development

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use remains a problem despite public health efforts at local and state levels. We present a case study in LA County using GIS to identify neighborhoods with populations at greater risk of tobacco use for the purpose of informing and guiding policy development. METHODS: Representative, biennial youth tobacco use survey data were combined with neighborhood census demographic data. CA Board of Equalization tobacco retailer data were obtained and cropped to LA County. Tobacco retail licensing (TRL) policy data were combined through GIS. County level data regarding tobacco risks were analyzed and disseminated to community advocates. Differences between presentations of data through tables of numbers vs. maps to community advocates will be further analyzed, evaluating the relative benefit of using maps rather than statistics to convey information about community risks. RESULTS: Youth were exposed to an average of 11 retailers within one mile of schools in urban neighborhoods in CA. Within LA County, TRL laws were focused more on urbanized areas, with greater coverage of residents by TRL policies than in more rural areas. DISCUSSION: GIS can be used as a tool to identify neighborhoods most in need for policies. Community groups can utilize GIS data to influence tobacco polices that best support their neighborhoods. Possible solutions include restricting tobacco retailers near schools, or increasing areas covered by TRL policies. The results will be used to educate community advocates on using GIS to increase their effectiveness at mobilizing neighborhoods to support policies that would reduce the residents' health risks.