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Applied Health Economics and Health Policy
Published in: Applied Health Economics and Health Policy 2/2010

01-03-2010 | Original Research Article

Willingness to pay for maternal health outcomes

Are women willing to pay more than men?

Authors: Miss Laura Ternent, Paul McNamee, David Newlands, Danielle Belemsaga, Adjima Gbangou, Suzanne Cross

Published in: Applied Health Economics and Health Policy | Issue 2/2010

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Abstract

Background

Only a limited number of studies have specifically sought to analyse and try to understand sex differences in willingness to pay (WTP).

Objective

To identify the role of sex in determining monetary values placed upon improvements in maternal health in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Methods

A contingent valuation survey using the bidding game method was conducted in the district of Nouna in 2005; a sample of 409 male heads of households and their spouses were asked their WTP for a reduction in the number of maternal deaths in the Nouna area. Ordinary least squares regression analysis was employed to examine the determinants of WTP.

Results

Men were willing to pay significantly more than women (3127 vs 2273 West African francs), although this represented a significantly smaller proportion of their annual income (4% vs 11%). In the multivariate analyses of all respondents there was a significant positive relationship between WTP values and both starting bid and whether there had been a previous maternal complication in the respondent’s household. However, there was a significant negative relationship between WTP and female sex. Once interactions between sex and income were taken into account, income did affect valuations, with a positive relationship between higher-income women and WTP values.

Conclusion

In absolute terms, men were willing to pay more than women, while women were willing to pay a greater proportion of their income. Differences between men and women in their WTP, both in absolute terms and in terms of proportion of income, can be explained by a household effect. Future studies should distinguish between individual income and command over decision making with respect to use of individual and household income, and gain further insight into the strategies used by respondents in answering bidding game questions.
Footnotes
1
Two alternative reductions in maternal mortality were put to respondents to enable investigation of scope effects. These are not pursued in this article.
 
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Metadata
Title
Willingness to pay for maternal health outcomes
Are women willing to pay more than men?
Authors
Miss Laura Ternent
Paul McNamee
David Newlands
Danielle Belemsaga
Adjima Gbangou
Suzanne Cross
Publication date
01-03-2010
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Applied Health Economics and Health Policy / Issue 2/2010
Print ISSN: 1175-5652
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1896
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/11313960-000000000-00000

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