Willingness to pay for treated mosquito nets in Surat, India: the design and descriptive analysis of a household survey
Bhatia, M.R.; Fox-Rushby, J.A.
Health Policy and Planning 17(4): 402-411
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0268-1080 PMID: 12424212 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/17.4.402Document Number: 244461
This paper aimed to describe and justify the design of the survey tool used to assess hypothetical willingness to pay (WTP) for deltamethrin treated mosquito nets (TMN) to control malaria in rural Surat, Gujarat, India, in 1997, and report its findings. Results from qualitative work were used as an input for developing the WTP questionnaire. A total of 1200 households belonging to 80 villages were selected. A bidding format was used to elicit WTP values using 3 different starting bids. The scenario was constructed in a way to reduce the possibility of respondents acting strategically. The response rate was 100%. About 79% of the respondents were willing to buy TMNs and the mean WTP was Rs 57. Descriptive results of economic and other taste and preference variables are also presented, which include preventive measures used by households and treatment seeking behaviour for malaria. It is observed that WTP as well as demographic variables and prevention methods differ significantly across arms of the trial. It is suggested that policy-makers could use the evidence following further analysis, along with information on costs of implementation, to ascertain the levels of subsidy that may be needed at different levels of coverage.