Abstract
Located in the subtropics, Taiwan is one of the major epidemic areas for dengue fever, with severe epidemics occurring in recent years. Dengue fever has become a serious health threat to Taiwan’s residents and a potentially serious economic cost to society. This study recruited 730 random participants and adopted the contingent valuation method to understand the factors influencing the populace’s willingness to pay (WTP) to reduce the health risk of dengue fever. The results show that high-income women with children and people with higher preventive perceptions and behavior are more willing to invest in preventive measures against dengue fever. In the evaluation of WTP for preventive treatment for health risks, each person was willing to pay on average NT$751 annually to lower psychological health risks, NT$793 annually to lower the risk of illness, and NT$1086 annually to lower the risk of death.
Highlights
Dengue fever is a viral infection primarily spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
The study results indicate that 65% of interviewees understood that the epidemic is transmitted by the Ae. aegypti mosquito, but 61% of interviewees were unaware that, currently, there is no vaccine against dengue
This study used the D-BDC format with hypothetical contingent valuation method (CVM) scenarios to survey the public about its willingness to pay (WTP) for dengue prevention to lower health risks
Summary
Dengue fever is a viral infection primarily spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The infection causes a flu-like illness and can sometimes lead to potentially lethal complications [1]. Morin et al [3] contended that climate factors such as warm temperatures, precipitation, and humidity are major drivers of the spread of dengue fever. In times of abnormal climate and frequent population movement, the occurrence of dengue fever in human residential communities can lead to severe outbreaks, posing a serious threat to public health. Taiwan straddles the Tropic of Cancer and has both tropical and subtropical climates Environmental factors such as warm temperatures and rainfall promote the spread of dengue fever. The hot and humid climate and the high population density in urban areas of cities in southern Taiwan make them major dengue hotspots [5]. Since Taiwan’s initial dengue epidemic in 1987–1988, there has been dengue outbreak almost every year in cities in southern Taiwan.
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