Measuring Consumer Willingness to Pay to Reduce Health Risks of Contracting Dengue Fever

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Health Economics

Background:

• Dengue fever is a significant public health concern in subtropical Taiwan, with recent severe epidemics posing threats.
• The economic impact of dengue fever on society is substantial, necessitating effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors influencing public willingness to pay (WTP) for reducing dengue fever health risks.
• To quantify the economic value individuals place on mitigating dengue fever's psychological, illness, and mortality risks.

Main Methods:

• Employed the contingent valuation method (CVM) with 730 random participants in Taiwan.
• Analyzed demographic and behavioral factors associated with WTP for dengue prevention.

Main Results:

• High-income women with children and individuals with higher preventive perceptions/behaviors demonstrated greater WTP.
• Average annual WTP was NT$751 for psychological risk reduction, NT$793 for illness risk reduction, and NT$1086 for death risk reduction.

Conclusions:

• Socioeconomic and behavioral factors significantly influence WTP for dengue fever prevention in Taiwan.
• Findings provide economic insights for public health policy and resource allocation in dengue control efforts.