Socio-Economic Burden of HIV/AIDS: Investigating Pregnant Women’s Willingness-to-Pay to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission in Ghana
- Author:
Emmanuel Ayifah
;
Rebecca Nana Yaa Ayifah
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
socio-economic;
burden;
HIV/AIDS;
pregnant women's;
transmission;
mother;
child
- From:Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine
2012;12(Supplement 1):13-13
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: The government of Ghana in 2002 launched a comprehensive programme to prevent mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HV/AIDS. The Prevention of Mother-to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS programme was first piloted in Atua government hospital and St Martin‟s de Porres Hospital, in the Yilo and Manya Krobo Districts. In Ghana PMTCT services are free. It is however worth noting that, with the ever increasing public health expenditure in recent years, the government cannot foot the bill on PMTCT all alone. There is therefore the need for individual contributions to ensure sustainability of HIV/AIDS and other health care interventions; hence the study to determine how much pregnant women will be willing-to-pay to prevent MTCT of HIV/AIDS.
Materials and Methods: The study used the open ended bid elicitation method to assess pregnant women‟s hypothetical Willingness-to-Pay (WTP) for PMTCT of HIV/AIDS. Respondents (n=200) were drawn from two antenatal clinics (Atua Government Hospital and St. Martins Deporres Hospital) in Ghana. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression was used to evaluate the determinants of WTP. Verbal informed consent was received from participants.
Results: About 84 and 94 percent of respondents from the Atua Government Hospital and St Martin‟s de Porres Hospital respectively were WTP for PMTCT of AIDS. WTP amount ranged between GH¢ 0.5 - GH¢ 20 ( $0.4 – $14.3) with Mean WTP being GH¢3.2 and GH¢ 3.6 ($2.3 – $2.6) for Atua Government Hospital and St Martin‟s de Porres Hospital respectively. Significant determinants of WTP for PMTCT of HIV/AIDS include Income, HIV/AIDS status and Level of education.
Conclusions: Pregnant women in the Yilo and Manya Krobo Districts of Ghana would be willing to participate in cost sharing schemes that target HIV/AIDS prevention if introduced, as indicated by their WTP for PMTCT of HIV/AIDS. Income is the most significant factor influencing WTP.
