Density of tobacco retail outlets around school in Lao People's Democratic Republic 2024: a geospatial analysis - Takeaways - MDSpire

Density of tobacco retail outlets around school in Lao People's Democratic Republic 2024: a geospatial analysis

  • By

  • Shweta Kulkarni

  • Thanh Cong Bui

  • Phonepadith Xangsayarath

  • Khatthanaphone Phangdouangsy

  • Chanthavy Soulaphy

  • Khanittha Sengdara

  • Sydney Martinez

  • Amanda Janitz

  • Summer G. Frank-Pearce

  • Laura A. Beebe

  • June 1, 2026

  • 0 min

Share

  • 1

    The study assessed tobacco retail outlet density around schools in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR, using geographic information systems.

  • 2

    A total of 233 tobacco retail outlets were audited around 27 schools, revealing significant density differences between urban and rural areas.

  • 3

    Tobacco retail outlet density was higher in urban districts, with Chanthabuly showing a median of 12 outlets within 250-500 m of schools.

  • 4

    Proximity analysis indicated that the shortest distance to outlets without age verification signage was 21.58 m from urban schools.

  • 5

    The findings suggest that stricter regulations on tobacco retail outlets are necessary to enhance tobacco control policies in Lao PDR.

Original Source(s)

Density of tobacco retail outlets around school in Lao People's Democratic Republic 2024: a geospatial analysis

  • by Shweta Kulkarni, Thanh Cong Bui, Phonepadith Xangsayarath, Khatthanaphone Phangdouangsy, Chanthavy Soulaphy, Khanittha Sengdara, Sydney Martinez, Amanda Janitz, Summer G. Frank-Pearce, Laura A. Beebe

  • June 1, 2026

Related Content

Challenges and pitfalls in analyzing, reporting, and interpreting health effects related to occupational and environmental exposures

Editorial: Molecular informatics in personalized medicine, volume II

Federal Funding Uncertainty Leaves US Research in Limbo

As funding uncertainty persists, researchers describe the impact on laboratories, students, and long-running projects across the US