Determinants of lowest willingness to pay for water supply improvements among HIV affected and non-affected households (20m Lecture)

Abstract Aim: To explore the determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for water supply improvements as well as the water practices amongst HIV/AIDS affected households and non-affected households for purposes of informing pro-poor and pro-HIV/AIDS water supply programs in Uganda.


Methods: A sample of 450 respondents with 222 from HIV/AIDS affected households and 228 from non-affected households was considered in Mpigi and Gomba districts. Respondents were household heads or their spouses or any other household member who played a significant role in household decision making and supply of the bulk of the money and necessities. Only factors significant at bivariate analysis were included in the multivariable regression analysis. Prevalence (PR), adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) and confidence intervals (CI) were generated.

Results:Results show that 30.6% of respondents lacked access to improved water sources. The determinants of lowest willingness to pay (WTP) for water were explored and results indicated that at multivariable analysis: those with monthly income above 100,000 shillings or USD 40 (APR: 0.39; 95% CI = 0.21 - 0.75) were less likely to pay lowest; those with secondary education (APR: 0.22; 95% CI = 0.10 - 0.49) were less likely to pay lowest; those with tertiary education (APR: 0.26; 95% CI = 0.08 – 0.84) were less likely to pay lowest; current vendor customers (APR: 0.43; 95% CI = 0.27 - 0.69) were less likely to pay lowest and those that made payments at primary water sources (APR: 0.43; 95% CI = 0.24 - 0.77) were less likely to pay lowest.

Conclusions: Current vendor customers as well as those that were contributing towards operation and maintenance of primary water sources through water user committees (WUCs) were less likely to minimally pay for water. HIV/AIDS affectedness and age were not significant explanatory factors for WTP. We therefore recommend that future water supply projects should mobilise, train and use water vendors and WUC members as entry points not only for providing local leadership but also for encouraging people to pay water user fees.