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Background In Malaysia, one million individuals are estimated to be infected with the hepatitis B virus. A vaccine for infants has been compulsory since 1989, whereas those born before 1989 need to spend their own money to be vaccinated in private clinics or hospitals. The aim of this study was to investigate and ascertain the determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for adult hepatitis B vaccine in Selangor, Malaysia. Methods In 2016, 728 households were selected through a stratified, two stage cluster sample and interviewed. Willingness to pay for hepatitis B vaccine was estimated using the Contingent Valuation Method, and factors affecting WTP were modelled with logit regression. Results We found that 273 (37.5%) of the households were willing to pay for hepatitis B vaccination. The mean and median of WTP was estimated at Ringgit Malaysia (RM)303 (approximately US$73) for the three dose series. The estimated WTP was significantly greater in those with higher levels of education, among Malays and Chinese (compared to others, predominantly Indians), and for those with greater perceived susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection. Other factors–perceived severity, barriers, benefits and cues to action–were not significantly associated with WTP for adult hepatitis B vaccination. Conclusion Additional resources are needed to cover the households that are not willing to pay for hepatitis B vaccination. More awareness (particularly in regards to hepatitis B virus susceptibility) could change the national perception towards self-paid hepatitis B virus vaccination and increase hepatitis B vaccine coverage.

Fish demand patterns in nine Asian countries were investigated using a multistage budgeting framework allowing a disaggregated approach to analysing fish consumption. This paper highlights the heterogeneity of fisheries products in terms of species, sources and cultural responses of consumers, factors that are important in fish demand under the Asian setting. Specifically, fish demand by income groups were compared to determine how the low-and high-income households respond to price and income changes. Results showed that the estimated price and income elasticities of all fish types included in the study were relatively more elastic among the poorer households.

Penang National Park (PNP), as Malaysia's smallest national park, is one of the few naturally forested areas left on Penang Island, in Peninsular Malaysia. The main objective was to analyse users' preferences and willingness to pay to enhance improved management of PNP for the dual aim of conservation and recreation. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the formation of attitudes towards different aspects of PNP. Results showed that implementing enforcements with rules and regulations and imposing permits and charges on certain activities were the most influential variables of PNPs' perceptions. The results of a random parameter logit model (RPL) demonstrated that visitors placed the highest value on having adequate information about PNP, and the second-highest value on improvements in the park's ecological management. The welfare measure for improvement in management of PNP against status quo is estimated at about MYR 9. Results also showed that demand for better conservation and management of PNP is relatively price-inelastic. Simulations of the results showed, under a MYR10 admission fee, that improvement in management would have 96% of market share compared with status quo. This study concluded that visitor entrance fees can and ought to be introduced OPEN ACCESSForests 2015, 6 2346 as a means of financing conservation initiatives and possibly preventing congestion.

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BackgroundMalaysia has a comprehensive, publicly-funded immunization program for hepatitis B (HepB) among infants, but adults must pay for the vaccine. The number of HepB carriers among adults is expected to increase in the future; therefore, we examined the impact of five constructs (cues to action, perceived barriers, perceived benefit, perceived severity, and perceived susceptibility) on adults’ willingness to pay (WTP) for HepB vaccine; secondarily, we examined the association between perceived barriers and perceived benefits.MethodsAdults were selected through a stratified, two-stage cluster community sample in Selangor, Malaysia. The reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the measurement model were assessed before implementing a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the significance of the structural paths.ResultsA total of 728 participants were enrolled. The five constructs all showed adequate internal reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. There was a significant, positive relationship to WTP from constructs (perceived barriers [Path coefficient (β) = 0.082, P = 0.036], perceived susceptibility [β = 0.214, P<0.001], and cues to action [β = 0.166, P<0.001]), and the model all together accounted for 8.8% of the variation in WTP. There was a significant, negative relationship between perceived barriers and perceived benefit [β = -0.261, P<0.001], which accounted for 6.8% of variation in perceived benefit.ConclusionsPolicy and programs should be targeted that can modify individuals’ thoughts about disease risk, their obstacles in obtaining the preventive action, and their readiness to obtain a vaccine. Such programs include educational materials about disease risk and clinic visits that can pair HepB screening and vaccination.

This research was carried out in order to determine consumers' perceptions, attitudes and willingness-to-pay (WTP) towards food products with "No Added MSG" labeling. A total of 200 respondents within the area of Klang Valley were interviewed using a close-ended questionnaire. The Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) was used to determine the consumers' WTP for the consumption of safer beef. A logit model was used to estimate the premium that consumers are willing to pay for food products with "No Added MSG" labeling. The results pointed out that majority of the consumers know and have read about or heard of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and illnesses caused by MSG, but only a small portion of them have experienced these illnesses before. Not all of the consumers have high awareness towards illnesses caused by MSG due to lack of information. However, their perceptions and attitudes towards food products with "No added MSG" labeling were found to be generally positive. Besides, the CV method which was used to determine and estimate consumers' WTP towards the food products mentioned by using logit model showed that the most important and significant actors that influenced a consumers' WTP are gender (female), household size, household income, family member with children below the age of 12, price levels and education level (university). Results also revealed that respondents were willing to pay a premium of about RM 0.43 for food products with "No added MSG" labeling. Based on the study, it was found that the demand and consumption of "No Added MSG" is still high and increasing. This current trend will certainly have effects on the present market. Hence, to ensure a better development of these products, there is a need to formulate proper standards, policies and promotion programmes for these products more efforts in research and development (R&D) are needed to improve the production technologies and food safety systems for these "No Added MSG" food products.