Factors influencing people's willingness-to-buy insecticide-treated bednets in Arbaminch Zuria District, southern Ethiopia

Frehywot Eshetu Gebresilassie, Damen Haile Mariam, Frehywot Eshetu Gebresilassie, Damen Haile Mariam

Abstract

Promoting self-financing healthcare helps restore efficiency and equity to national health systems. This study was conducted in malaria-endemic areas of southern Ethiopia to assess the bednet possession of the community, determine the people's willingness-to-pay for insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs), and identify what factors influence it. The study provided relevant information for programme planners and policymakers for evidence-based decision-making. This quantitative cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in four selected malarious Kebeles of Arbaminch Zuria district using a pretested interview-administered structured questionnaire. In total, 982 household heads were interviewed. The community's willingness-to-pay was assessed by contingent valuation, technique using binary with follow-up method. The advantage, the distribution, and the payment mechanism were explained, and three different qualities of ITN were shown by constructing a hypothetical market scenario. Of the 982 respondents, 466 (47.5%) households had at least one functional bednet. Of 849 children aged less than five years in the 982 households, 185 (21.8%) slept under a net the night preceding the survey. The results of the study revealed that around 86% of the respondents were willing to buy ITNs. The average maximum willingness-to-pay for three different types of bednets was statistically different. The maximum amount the people were willing to pay was US$ 3.3 for a blue conical ITN, US$ 3.2 for a white conical one, and US$ 1.7 for a blue rectangular ITN. The community's willingness-to-pay was significantly affected by gender, educational status, perceived benefit of ITN, previous source of bednet, and characteristics of bednet. The results showed that a significant proportion of the community people were willing to pay for ITNs. Therefore, introducing a subsidized ITN market rather than free distribution for all should be considered to ensure sustainability and self-reliance in the prevention and control of malaria.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Demand curve for maximum WTP for a blue conical socially-marketed ITN in Arbaminch Zuria district, March 2006
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Demand curve for maximum willingness-to-pay for a white conical sociallymarketed ITN in Arbaminch Zuria district, March 2006
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Demand curve for maximum willingness-to-pay for a blue rectangular freelydistributed ITN in Arbaminch Zuria district, March 2006
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Mean willingness-to-pay for ITN versus estimated monthly income (ETB) (income elasticity of WTP), Arbaminch Zuria district, March 2006

References

    1. Ethiopia . Ministry of Health. ITNs national strategic plan for going to scale with coverage and utilization in Ethiopia, 2004–2007. Addis Ababa: Ministry of Health, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; 2004. pp. 2–11.
    1. Ethiopia . Ministry of Health. National five years strategic plan for malaria prevention and control inEthiopia; 2006–2010. Addis Ababa: Ministry of Health, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; 2006. pp. 37–8.
    1. Shaw RP, Griffin C. Financing health care in sub-Saharan Africa through user fees and insurance. Washington DC: World Bank; 1995. pp. 10–1.
    1. Ethiopia . Ministry of Health. Health Care Financing Secretariat. Estimating willingness to pay for health care in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Ministry of Health, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; 2001. p. 7.
    1. Getachew S. Assessment of use of insecticide treated bed net and factors affecting it in Serbo town, Jimma zone. Jimma: Public Health Department, Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University; 2005. pp. 55–7. (MA dissertation).
    1. Haileselassie B. Assessment of insecticide treated nets coverage for malaria control in Kefta-Humera district. Tigray: School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University; 2006. p. 18. (MA dissertation).
    1. Addis Ababa . Central Statistics Agency. Ethiopian demographic and health survey. Addis Ababa: Central Statistics Agency; 2005. p. 168.
    1. Taye B. Economic cost of malaria in rural house holds and willingness to pay for bed net in western Shoa. Addis Ababa: Economics Department, Addis Ababa University; 2001. p. 26. (MA dissertation).
    1. Jima D, Tesfaye G, Deresse W, Woyessa A, Kebede D, Alamirew D. Baseline survey for the implementation of ITN in malaria control in Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Dev. 2005;19:17–22.
    1. Hokby S, Soderqvist T. Elasticity of demand and willingness to pay for environmental services in Sweden. Stockholm: Beijer International Institute of Ecological Economics, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences; 2001. p. 2. ( , accessed on 23 July 2006).
    1. Munjija PG, Makwaya CK, Saveborn R. Gender andwillingness to pay for insecticides treated bed nets in a poor rural area in Tanzania. East Afr Med J. 2004;18:641–8.
    1. Mugisha F, Arinaitwe J. Sleeping arrangement and mosquito net use among under-fives: results from the Ugandan demographic and health survey. Malar J. 2003;2:40.
    1. Severborn R. Use and relevance of stated preference methods in determining willingness to pay for insecticide treated bed nets in rural area in Tanzania. Boston: Department of Public Health, Boston University; 2000. pp. 87–90.

Source: PubMed

赞助者和合作者

医疗条件

药物干预

3
订阅