Preferences and willingness to pay for early childhood healthy lifestyle initiative outcomes: A discrete choice experiment

TL;DR

This study explores what parents prioritize in early childhood health programs and how much they are willing to pay for these initiatives.

Contribution

The study quantifies parents' preferences and willingness to pay for outcomes of early childhood health initiatives using a discrete choice experiment.

Findings

Effect on diet was the most important factor influencing parents' choices.

Parents were less sensitive to cost for targeted initiatives aimed at specific children.

Willingness-to-pay estimates ranged from AUD$176 to $219 per annum for different health outcomes.

Abstract

Understanding stakeholder preferences and values for early childhood initiatives to support healthy diets, physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour is key for effective intervention design and resource allocation. This study aims to estimate the preferences for and value of outcomes from the perspectives of parents/caregivers of Australian children aged from birth to 5 years.

Discrete choice experiment, 466 parent/caregivers recruited from online platform. Participants selected between two healthy lifestyle initiatives or a “neither” option. Initiatives were described by attributes including cost, participation and outcomes. Mixed multinomial logistic models were used to determine preferences and willingness‐to‐pay per annum framed as an increase in income taxes.

Effect on diet was the most important influence on parent/caregiver choice to participate (p < 0.01), followed by effect on physical activity (p < 0.01), wellbeing (p < 0.01) and healthy growth (p < 0.01). Parents/caregivers were less sensitive to cost for initiatives aimed at specific children (e.g., targeted initiatives for a priority population). Willingness‐to‐pay estimates ranged from AUD$176 for improved wellbeing to $219 for healthier diets.

Results suggest that leveraging the potential for healthier diets, followed by healthier physical activity behaviours, as a key benefit of participation may be particularly attractive to parents/caregivers. In addition, some level of equity preference could be acceptable to parents/caregivers in the allocation of scarce resources.

Figures