Knowledge, Preference, and Willingness to Pay for Hepatitis B Vaccination Services among Woman of Reproductive Age in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine is a critical approach to prevent HBV transmission from mother to child. However, despite high HBV prevalence, evidence about the preference of women of productive age for HBV vaccine in Vietnam was constrained. This study aims to explore the preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for the HBV vaccine in Vietnamese women in productive age. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hanoi in April 2016. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information about respondents' socioeconomic status and knowledge about HBV vaccination. A contingent valuation approach was employed to measure the WTP for the HBV vaccine. Logistic and interval regressions were used to determine the associated factors. RESULTS: Among 807 women, 80.8% were willing to have the vaccine injected which had the average price of 108,600 VND (95% CI, 97,580 VND–119,570 VND). Participants not suffering any diseases during pregnancy were more likely to be willing to pay for the HBV vaccine (OR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.73–6.70). Not having the antenatal examination at central hospitals and working as farmers/workers were positively correlated with willingness to pay for this vaccine, while the number of children of respondents had a negative correlation with WTP. CONCLUSIONS: Our sampled women expressed a high willingness to pay for the vaccine. The price people were willing to pay for the vaccine, however, is equal to half of the actual price. These findings implied needs for better targeted public education interventions about HBV and the involvement of local medical staffs and the media in providing information. Efforts to reduce the price of the vaccine should also be warranted for scaling-up the coverage of this vaccine.