Willingness to Pay for HIV Treatment - A Case of Clients Seeking Care at Rimuka TB and HIV Site Kadoma Zimbabwe (2016)

Download Article

DOI: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.05.01.Art016

Authors : Daniel Chirundu, Pamela N. Magande, Tapesana S., Mduluza T

Abstract:

Introduction: In Zimbabwe, clients are not supposed to pay for HIV services. However, it is common for clients to purchase medical sundries from the private sector. This is in addition to other opportunity costs like transport. Of late, there is decreasing funding for HIV programs and the health system is constrained. We therefore, assessed the willingness to pay for HIV treatment in case there is a policy change.

Method: We used a cross sectional study design. The contingency valuation method was used to assess the willingness to pay. We randomly selected 552 respondents from the ART database. We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire to collect data. Analysis was done using Epi-Info 7 software. Independent factors were identified using stepwise backward logistic regression.

Results: Among the 552 respondents interviewed, 336 (66.4%) were willing to pay for HIV treatment. The independent factors predicting positive willingness to pay for ART services were being employed, (aOR=3.7; p=0000), satisfaction with health workers, (aOR=6.23; p=0.04) and disclosure of HIV status to a friend (aOR=1.59; p=0.02). Having a household budgetary change due to being on ART (aOR=0.6; p=0.05); practicing no religion (aOR=0.33; p=0.01) were negatively associated with willingness to pay for HIV treatment.

Conclusion: The majority of the people interviewed at RITHS are willing to pay for HIV treatment. However, whilst people on HIV treatment may be willing to pay for treatment we recommend sourcing extra funding from charity and donations in order to maintain equity in providing healthcare services to the population. We, therefore, recommend that treatment should continue to be free.

Keywords: ART, Rimuka, Kadoma

References:

[1] Ayifah Emmanuel et. al. Determinants of the willingness-to-pay for HIV/AIDS prevention: the case of mother-to-child transmission in selected hospitals in Ghana- Retrovirology 2010, 7 (Suppl 1):P137

[2] Ashita S Batavia, Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Patients Participating in a Graduated Cost Recovery Program at an HIV Care Center in South India, AIDS and Behavior 14(4):794-8 · August 2010.

[3] Balogun MR, et. al. Access to information technology and willingness to receive text message reminders for childhood immunization among mothers attending a tertiary facility in Lagos, Nigeria. South Afr J Child Health. 2012.

[4] Bangure D et. al. Effectiveness of Short message services on Childhood Immunization program in Kadoma BMC

[5] Govender, Veloshnee et. al. The Costs and Perceived Quality of Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Small Applied Research No. 14. Bethesda, MD: Partnerships for Health Reform Project, Abt Associates Inc. April 2000

[6] Govt. of Zimbabwe, Guidelines for therapy Prevention and Treatment of HIV in Zimbabwe 2018, National Medicines and Therapeutic Policy Advisory Committee 2016)

[7] Hans S.Binwanger, Willingness to pay for AIDS treatment: myths and realities- Lancet 2003).

[8] Jeffrey A. Alexander, Patient–Physician Role Relationships and Patient Activation among Individuals with Chronic Illness, Health Services Research, June 2012)

[9] Klose T. The contingent valuation method in health care. Health Policy. 1999 May; 47 (2):97-123.

[10] Kabede et. al.Willingness to receive text message medication reminders among patients on antiretroviral treatment in North West Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making (2015) 15:65

[11] Leite L et. al. Cell phone utilization among foreign-born Latinos: a promising tool for dissemination of health and HIV information. J Immigr Minor Health. 2014.

[12] Lindsay S. Youth’s acceptance of mobile phone text messaging for STI Health promotion. Edited by Columbia Tuob. Vancouver: The University of British Columbia; 2013.

[13] Muko et. al. Shu Willingness to pay for treatment with highly active antiretroviral (HAART) drugs: a rural case study in Cameroon, Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS VOL. 1 NO. 2 AUGUST 2004)

[14] Piette JD, et. al. Access to mobile communication technology and willingness to participate in automated telemedicine calls among chronically ill patients in Honduras. Telemed J E Health. 2010.

[15] Syden Rosen et. al. Cost to patients of obtaining treatment for HIV/AIDS in South Africa- South Africa Medical Journal 2007.)

[16] Stephen M, Franz E, Thomas S. A conceptual framework for designing mHealth solutions for developing countries. In: UN Foundation – Vodafone Foundation Partnership. 2009.

[17] Tamaryn C, Corless IB, Janet G, Patrice KN, Quentin E, Lisa MB. Exploring the patterns of use and the feasibility of using cellular phones for clinic appointment reminders and adherence messages in an antiretroviral treatment clinic, Durban, South Africa. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2010

[18] Xiaoab Y, Jic G, Tiana C, Lia H, Biaod W, Hu Z. Acceptability, and factors associated with willingness to receive short messages for improving antiretroviral therapy adherence in China. AIDS Care. 2013.

[19] Zoran Bursac et. al. Purposeful selection of variables in logistic regression: Source Code for Biology and Medicine 2008

[20] Otiso L.D. Assessing the acceptability and willingness to pay for HIV services among patients at LVCT health HIV clinics (Thesis) Strathmor University (2016)

[21] Rony Zachariah et. al, Acceptance of anti-retroviral therapy among patients infected with HIV and tuberculosis in rural Malawi is low and associated with cost of transport. 2006, 1:e121 PLoS ONE

[22] Syden Rosen et. al. Cost to patients of obtaining treatment for HIV/AIDS in South Africa- South Africa Medical Journal 2007