The prevalence and negative impact of tobacco use are increasing in impoverished and marginalised communities around the globe. In high-income countries, smoking rates remain stubbornly high among homeless people, indigenous and minority ethnic groups, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, and those with mental illnesses. A social gradient to tobacco consumption is also apparent in many middle- and low-income countries. Moreover, smoking rates are increasing among women living in developing world, which is likely to worsen gender inequality. Consequently, health and socioeconomic inequalities are increasing between different social strata. Moreover, as tobacco-related burden of disease shifts towards low- and middle-income countries, the health gap between their populations and those in high-income countries widens further. Certain forms of tobacco using, for instance, smokeless tobacco are particularly common among the poor leading to disproportionate disease burden on the underprivileged segments of the population.

We invite authors to submit original research and review articles that will help us to understand factors that are driving differences in tobacco use and quitting between different social groupings. We are also interested in papers that illustrate progressive and proequity approaches for tobacco control.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• The differences in tobacco use and quitting between groupings based on social disadvantage, gender, ethnicity, and health conditions
• The differences in the health and economic impact of tobacco use between these groupings
• The determinants of tobacco use and quitting among impoverished and marginalised groups
• Emerging themes in tobacco (e.g., waterpipe smoking, smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarettes) and their impact on health disparities
• Individual or community-based interventions adapted and/or delivered according to the social context of disadvantaged and marginalised groups
• Population-wide approaches and policies that are progressive and are likely to reduce disparities