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Demand for self-tests: Evidence from a Becker-DeGroot-Marschak mechanism field experiment
Patrick Aylward1, Hildah Essendi2, Kristen Little1
1Population Services International, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Health Economics
|January 23, 2020
Summary
Willingness to pay for HIV self-tests is substantial at low prices, with demand remaining highly elastic. Few participants showed no willingness to pay, indicating strong potential for HIV self-testing uptake.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Low demand for preventive health services is a significant challenge.
- Self-testing offers a potential solution to reduce access barriers.
- Evidence on the demand for self-tests, particularly HIV self-tests, is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure exact willingness to pay (WTP) for HIV self-tests.
- To understand the demand elasticity for HIV self-tests.
- To identify factors influencing WTP for HIV self-tests.
Main Methods:
- A field experiment was conducted with 822 participants across 66 health clinics/pharmacies in Kenya.
- The Becker-DeGroot-Marschak (BDM) mechanism was employed to elicit WTP.
- Analysis examined correlates of WTP and demand patterns.
Main Results:
- Substantial demand for HIV self-tests was observed at low price points.
- Demand exhibited high elasticity across a broad range of prices.
- A minimal number of participants demonstrated non-positive WTP.
Conclusions:
- HIV self-tests show significant market potential, particularly when affordable.
- Understanding WTP is crucial for designing effective HIV self-testing distribution strategies.
- Further research on correlates of WTP can inform public health interventions.
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