Evidences for the design and implementation of smoking cessation interventions in Mexico: An analysis of the willingness to pay for an effective method to quit smoking

Objective: To describe the profile of the demand for interventions to quit smoking among smokers in Mexico, estimate the maximum willingness to pay (WTP) for an effective smoking cessation treatment and to identify smokers' background, environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic factors associated with this valuation. Methods: From the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in Mexico 2009, a statistical association and descriptive analysis were conducted to describe smokers and their WTP using tobacco-related background information, environmental, socioeconomic and demographic variables. Results: 82.2 % of the current smokers who did not want to quit were men, whereas between those who wanted to quit, 74.9 % were men. The WTP for an effective cessation method was on average $2,708 Mexican pesos. An increase was identified in the WTP as the educational level is increased using as reference to the smokers without formal education. The individuals of the quintiles of socioeconomic status (SES) 4 and 5 have a major WTP that the individuals of the quintile 1. Conclusions: The evidence showed in the present study, will inform and support policymakers in the design and implementation of smoking cessation interventions. The study documents the need that these interventions incorporate components in correspondence with the smokers' profiles identified to improve the effectiveness of the interventions to quit smoking, among Mexican smokers.>