Willingness to pay for spectacle among presbyopic population in South Gondar, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Aim To assess the willingness to pay for spectacles among the south Gondar presbyopic adult population. Methods An interview-based questionnaire was employed to elicit the willingness to pay for spectacles among people refracted during an outreach service at Debre-Tabor Zonal Hospital. Results Of the total 322 people participating in the study, only 53.4% (172) were experienced spectacles users. The median gross monthly income of participants was US$ 75.0 (ranged US$ 7.1 - 321.4) and the mean amount of money willing to pa for a pair of spectacles was US$ 17.9 (ranged US$ 1.1-107.1). Participants who were willing to pay US$ 12.5 for a pair of spectacles from a government optical accounted 63.0% (95% CI: 57.8-68.3), while those willing to pay the minimum international pair of spectacle price US$ 5.6 were accounted 73.9% (95% CI: 68.9-79.2%) and spectacle from local private optical price US$ 17.8 accounted 46.6% (95% CI: 40.4-52.2). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated factors such as age (P=0.049), occupation (0.001), monthly income (0.001) and history of previous spectacle wear (0.005) to be significantly associated with willingness to pay for a pair of spectacles. Conclusion Determining willingness to pay and affordable price could increase spectacle coverage among presbyopic individuals. confirmatory public willingness to pay for a pair of spectacles has to be considered as a useful aspect in establishing affordable and a financially sustainable optical service. The positive willingness to pay for a pair of spectacle has to be supported with accessible provision of spectacles.