02872nas a2200373   4500000000100000008004100001653001300042653001300055653003100068653001700099653002000116653002400136653001500160653001100175653002400186653002700210653002100237653002600258653001700284653002300301653002600324653001000350100001200360700001200372700001100384700001200395700001400407245011700421856007400538300001000612490000700622520185500629022001402484       2003                            d10aTrachoma10aTanzania10aSurveys and Questionnaires10aSocial Class10aRisk Assessment10aRegression Analysis10aPrevalence10aHumans10aFinancing, Personal10aFamily Characteristics10aChild, Preschool10aChild Health Services10aAzithromycin10aAttitude to Health10aAnti-Bacterial Agents10aAdult1 aFrick K1 aLynch M1 aWest S1 aMunoz B1 aMkocha HA00aHousehold willingness to pay for azithromycin treatment for trachoma control in the United Republic of Tanzania.  uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2572402/pdf/12751418.pdf  a101-70 v813 a<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>Household willingness to pay for treatment provides important information for programme planning. We tested for relationships between socioeconomic status, risk of trachoma, perceptions of the effects of azithromycin, and the household willingness to pay for future mass treatment with azithromycin.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>We surveyed 394 households in 6 villages located in central United Republic of Tanzania regarding their willingness to pay for future azithromycin treatment. A random sample of households with children under 8 years of age was selected and interviewed following an initial treatment programme in each village. Data were gathered on risk factors for trachoma, socioeconomic status, and the perceived effect of the initial azithromycin treatment. Ordered probit regression analysis was used to test for statistically significant relationships.</p>

<p><strong>FINDINGS: </strong>38% of responding households stated that they would not be willing to pay anything for future azithromycin treatment, although they would be willing to participate in the treatment. A proxy for cash availability was positively associated with household willingness to pay for future antibiotic treatment. Cattle ownership (a risk factor) and being a household headed by a female not in a polygamous marriage (lower socioeconomic status) were associated with a lower willingness to pay for future treatment. A perceived benefit from the initial treatment was marginally associated with a willingness to pay a higher amount.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>As those at greatest risk of active trachoma indicated the lowest willingness to pay, imposing a cost recovery fee for azithromycin treatment would likely reduce coverage and could prevent control of the disease at the community level.</p>
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