Agaku, I., Egbe, C.O. and Ayo-Yusuf, O.A., 2021.
Given the observed increase in e-cigarette vendors, there is a need for up-to-date information on where e-cigarettes are sold and how these points-of-sales are distributed across the country. The study characterized the geospatial distribution of e-cigarette vape shops in South Africa and measured the association with tobacco use amongst adults. Geocoordinates of the identified vape shops were linked to the individual-level data of 18 208 participants in a 2018 web survey of South African adults. Geographic analyses identified 240 vape shops or vendors in South Africa. Vape shops were clustered around higher education institutions and 49.6% of these shops were located within a 5km radius of these institutions. A positive association was observed between proximity to vape shops and ever-cigarette use among adults aged 18-29 years.
