Intra - household Preference and Willingness to Pay for Improved Malaria Prevention."
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Date
2007-06
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A.A.U
Abstract
Health is one of the most important things which affect human well-being. Due to
its strong relation with well-being, health often treated as an economic good
which has some value. But, in most of the cases due to lack of market for health
goods different health programs face a serious obstacle in identifying the
economic benefits of health provision or economic cost of lack of access for such
serv1ces.
This study applies the double bounded contingent valuation method to elicit the
individuals' WTP for improved malaria prevention by constructing a hypothetical
market. Two scenarios, a hypothetical drug and environment cleaning program
were presented for 271 respondents. The aim of the study was to estimate WTP
between two groups of respondents having different proximity to Koka Dam.
Those respondents from within three kilometer radius of the Dam considered as
intervention group and the rest far away from the dam above 8 kilometers were
considered as control group.
The econometrics results indicate that, variables like female, yearly income, home
ownership and being in intervention site are quite significant variables in
explaining the individuals probability of 'voting' for the programs and the amount
for WTP. The study also revealed that there is a starting point bias when the
follow-up bid is introduced. Annual Mean willingness to pay for the hypothetical
drug scenario is estimated at Birr 86 for intervention site, Birr 85 for control site,
Birr 108 for husbands, and Birr 92 for wives.
On the basis of the findings, the following policy recommendations were
forwarded. Existence of expressed demand for improved malaria treatment calls
for Supply-side policy interventions. Strategies should be designed to motivate
those who can pay for Cost sharing but not marginalizing the poor. Considering
environment correction as one means to reduce the malaria burden is also
suggested.
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Keywords
Household Preference, Improved Malaria Prevention