May 27, 2010
The Question
What is the household demand for insecticide-treated mosquito bednets (ITNs) in Tigray, Ethiopia?
What we found
Demand for ITNs decreases monotonically with price. At the estimated supply price ($16), 63% of the population would not buy any bednets. At $1, 68% of the population would be protected by nets. The income elasticity of demand is low. ITN distribution through the private sector is unlikely.
Why it matters
Policymakers need to balance the goals of cost recovery – a necessity for a self sustaining program – against the desire to guarantee protection for a certain proportion of the population. Knowledge of the amount of nets that would be sold if they were privately distributed would aid in planning and decision making.
