Context: A growing body of evidence indicates that the location of tobacco retailers may influence tobacco access among youths. Objective: The aim of this research was to examine the relationship between the proximity of tobacco retailers to schools and the violations of tobacco retailing laws. Design: A cross-sectional survey research. Main Outcome Measures: We applied geographical information system to measure the proximity between tobacco retailers and schools and linked them with self-report surveys concerning the violations of tobacco retailing laws. We then tested the relationship between the proximity of tobacco retailers within 500 m of schools and the violations of tobacco retailing laws by the χ 2 test. Participants: All tobacco retailers (121 shops) and schools (14 schools) (covering 5 levels: 2 primary schools, 6 primarymiddle schools, 3 secondary schools, 2 vocational schools, and 1 university) in a town municipality in Thailand. Results: Most tobacco retailers were most densely located around primary schools and located less than 500 m away from schools (47.1%), and most of them had violated the tobacco retailing laws. In addition, it was found that the tobacco retailers that were located less than 500 m away from schools allowed customers to do a self-service (P = .04). Nonetheless, the tobacco shops that were far away from schools, more than 500 m, were likely to sell the cigarettes in sticks (P = .04). Conclusion: Our results suggest that Thai young people may be at a particularly high risk of tobacco-related problems due to high exposure to tobacco retailers and sales near their educational institutions. We support the possibility of zoning restrictions that can be used to prohibit the operation of tobacco retailers close to schools. KEY WORDS: near schools, Thailand, the violations of laws, tobacco access, tobacco retailers, youth S moking causes 6 million deaths worldwide. 1 There are 10.9 million smokers, and 50 000 people die from diseases attributed to smoking annually in Thailand. 2 Smoking is the second highest

INTRODUCTION Although Thailand has banned the import of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) into the kingdom, a range of evidence has revealed the widespread use of these illegal products, especially among university students. Too little is known about personal and perceptual factors for such behavior. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with the use of e-cigarettes among university students in Northern Thailand METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with 792 university students in Northern Thailand between June and July 2020. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was implemented to collect relevant information. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify factors associated with the use of e-cigarettes in the last 30 days. RESULTS The study revealed that 18.1% of the participants used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. The personal factors associated with e-cigarette use among Thai university students included: studying in non-health related faculties (AOR=11.21; 95% CI: 4.88–25.71); having a friend using e-cigarettes (AOR=10.48; 95% CI: 5.96–18.41); having a lower GPA than the mean (AOR=1.93; 95% CI: 1.14– 3.28); and having a monthly income higher than the mean (AOR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.09–2.78). Regarding perceptual factors, there was a significant link between e-cigarette use and the perception that these modern cigarettes are less harmful than conventional cigarettes (AOR=2.47; 95% CI: 1.50–4.07), and perception that using e-cigarettes in public is not illegal (AOR=1.93; 95% CI: 1.19–3.15). CONCLUSIONS E-cigarette use is widespread among Thai university students. Maintaining the enforcement policy on banning the importation of e-cigarettes into the country is thus needed. Also, further communication and public relations on the risks and legal prohibitions of e-cigarette use are needed among university students in the Northern Thailand.

INTRODUCTION One-third of youths in Thailand will be exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) from family members who are smokers. This research aims to study the prevalence of and factors associated with SHS exposure at home among middle school students in Northern Thailand. METHODS This study used a cross-sectional survey. The sample was 780 middle school students in Northern Thailand. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection and analyses were performed using a chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS Of the respondents, 46.8% reported that they had been exposed to SHS at home. The main SHS sources were from fathers (45.4%), relatives (24.1%), siblings (12.4%), mothers (3.3%), and neighbours and guests (14.8%). The factors associated with SHS exposure at home included: household members who were smokers (OR=7.43; 95% CI: 5.17-10.68; p<0.001), home without a smoke-free rule (OR=3.40; 95% CI: 1.85-6.24; p<0.001), household members who were alcohol drinkers (OR=2.29; 95% CI: 1.59-3.30; p<0.001), and living in homes with ≤3 rooms (OR=1.79; 95% CI: 1.21-2.63; p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS Thai student's exposure to SHS at home is high, especially when household members smoke and they live in a home without a smoke-free rule. Our findings highlight the need for policies and interventions to establish smokefree homes. AFFILIATION

This cross-sectional survey aims to study the behaviors and predictors for smoking behaviors among women who frequent nightlife entertainment venues around a university in the northern region of Thailand. Samples comprised 279 women who visited nightlife venues around a university in the northern region of Thailand. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed by chi-square and binary logistic regression. The results found that women who frequented nightlife venues and smoked accounted for 32% and 22% of those who smoked inside such venues. Furthermore, the factors identified as predictive of smoking behavior among women who frequented nightlife entertainment venues included frequently visiting nightlife venues more than 3 days per week (odds ratio (OR) = 8.89, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.31-23.90), having a positive attitude toward smoking (OR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.56-6.28), having a smoking family member (OR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.37-5.66), and having a smoking partner (OR = 4.86, 95% CI: 2.38-9.93). Therefore, relevant agencies should continuously promote the right attitudes about smoking to Thai women who frequent nightlife entertainment venues.

PURPOSE This study aimed to examine the quality of life of tobacco farmers and their desire to stop growing tobacco. METHODS A cross-sectional home-based survey was conducted between October 2021 and January 2022 among 2,970 Virginia and Burley tobacco farmers in Northern Thailand. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the association between farmers' characteristics and their quality of life and a desire to stop planting tobacco. RESULTS In total, 58.5% of the participants wanted to stop growing tobacco, and most had a lower quality of life than the mean. Nine independent variables were associated with a desire to stop tobacco farming: having a low level of economic quality of life (adjusted odds ratio [ORAdj], 5.42; 95% CI, 3.8 to 7.8); having a high environmental quality of life (ORAdj, 4.60; 95% CI, 3.3 to 6.5); belonging to the Tobacco Farmers' Association (ORAdj, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.1 to 4.5); growing tobacco on their own land (ORAdj, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.8 to 2.6); having a low social quality of life (ORAdj, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.1); having a low health quality of life (ORAdj, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.1); having a low spiritual quality of life (ORAdj, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.2 to 1.7); being Burley tobacco farmers (ORAdj, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.8); and having a low family quality of life (ORAdj, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.4 to 0.6). CONCLUSION The majority of the tobacco farmers had a declining quality of life, particularly economic and environmental quality of life, resulting in reducing growing tobacco. National and regional support are needed to help these farmers effectively grow alternative crops, and financial support to make such conversions.