Willingness to pay for improved vision in Mozambique

ABSTRACT

The burden of vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error (needing spectacles) in Mozambique is known to be significant. To improve the planning and provision of eye health services, a better understanding of how vision is valued by patients is needed. The willingness to pay (WTP) for improved vision through correcting refractive error was investigated in Nampula, Mozambique, using stated choice and bidding game methodologies. The mean WTP values were found to be 388.92 Meticals (US$13) for stated choice and 469.89 Meticals (US$16) for the bidding game. The mean WTP values for rural dwellers were found to be lower than responses from those living in urban areas. If avoidable vision impairment is to be addressed in Mozambique, the cost of services must not be a barrier and the construction of a sustainable spectacle system that delivers for both rural and urban patients must be a priority.

KEYWORDS:

• Willingness to pay
• vision impairment
• eye health
• Mozambique
• spectacles
• refractive error

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Rajith Lakshman from the Institute of Development Studies for assistance with the statistical analysis, and Sandra Baxter formally of the Institute of Development Studies for managerial support. Thanks also to Jorge Ferrão formally of Universidade Lúrio and all the Optometry Department staff and students for supporting the data collection in Mozambique. Stephen James Thompson. The Social and Economic Impact of Refractive Error in Mozambique. Doctoral Thesis, Technological University Dublin. Retrieved from https://arrow.tudublin.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1179&context=sciendoc.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by Irish Aid, as part of the Mozambique Eyecare Project.