The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45442

Susan B. Sorenson, PhD, School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences Dept, University of California Los Angeles, Box 951772, Violence Prevention Research Group, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, (310) 825-8749, sorenson@ucla.edu

Background. Injury prevention programming by public health agencies is important yet often under-funded. The present study investigated the willingness of the general public to pay for programs designed to prevent domestic violence, a major cause of intentional injury morbidity and mortality among women.

Methods. An experimental design was used within the context of a telephone survey of 3,679 community-based adults in California. Eleven funding methods and four dollar amounts were each randomly assigned to each respondent. The sample consisted of roughly equal proportions of Whites, Blacks, Latinos, Korean Americans, Vietnamese Americans, and Other Asian Americans; interviews were conducted in four languages.

Results. Most (83.4%) respondents indicated willingness to support domestic violence prevention programming through various funding methods that would assess costs of $1-$25/person. Men (vs. women) and persons earning more than $60,000 (vs. less than $20,000) annually were less likely to support domestic violence prevention programming.

When respondent demographics and the amount to be paid were taken into account, five funding methods were equally acceptable: increased fines for batterers, a surcharge on marriage license fees, a surcharge on firearm sales, sales of license plate frames with domestic violence prevention messages, and sales of special postage stamps (like those used to raise money for breast cancer research). Three amounts - $1, $5, and $10 - tested similarly; $25 was less acceptable.

Conclusions. Fines, surcharges, and sales of special items were acceptable methods by which to raise funds to support domestic violence prevention programming. This information may be useful for policy makers who want to support such programming.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• List three assessments that are acceptable to the general public as a means to generate funding for domestic violence prevention programming;
• List the financial amount that the general public reports being willing to pay to support domestic violence prevention programming;
• Describe a research methodology by which willingness-to-pay information can be obtained.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.