Preferences and Demand for Mosquito Control among Dengue-Endemic Communities in Peñuelas, Puerto Rico: An Application...

Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue virus and threatens 3.9 billion people living in many tropical and subtropical countries. Prevention and reduction of dengue and other Aedes-borne viruses, including Zika and chikungunya, requires control of mosquito populations. Community mobilization and input are essential components of vector control efforts. Many vector control campaigns do not engage communities prior to implementation, leading to program failure. Those that do often conduct basic knowledge, attitude, and practice surveys that are not designed to explicitly elicit preferences. Here, we applied a novel stated preference elicitation tool, best-worst choice, to understand preferences, willingness to participate, and willingness to pay for mosquito control in dengue-endemic communities of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Findings revealed that the community preferred mosquito control programs that are 1) applied at the neighborhood level, 2) implemented by the local government, and 3) focused specifically on reducing disease transmission (e.g., dengue) instead of mosquito nuisance. Programs targeting the reduction of disease transmission and higher educational level of participants increased willingness to participate. Participants were willing to pay an average of $72 annually to have a program targeting the reduction of diseases such as dengue. This study serves as a model to engage communities in the design of mosquito control programs and improve stakeholders' decision-making.