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Handwashing and Household Health Expenditures Under COVID-19: Evidence from Cameroon

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  • Michèle Estelle Ndonou Tchoumdop

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, The University of Yaounde II, P.O. Box 18 Soa, Cameroon
    Institute for Research and Studies for Innovation and Development, P.O. Box 14442 Yaounde, Cameroon
    Gender and Development Research Laboratory, The University of Yaounde II, P.O. Box 18 Soa, Cameroon)

  • Rodrigue Nda’chi Deffo

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, The University of Yaounde II, P.O. Box 18 Soa, Cameroon
    Institute for Research and Studies for Innovation and Development, P.O. Box 14442 Yaounde, Cameroon
    African Population and Health Research Center, 4e étage, Immeuble Sourok 3, Sacré coeur 3 VDN, 10083 Dakar, Senegal)

  • André Dumas Tsambou

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, The University of Yaounde II, P.O. Box 18 Soa, Cameroon
    Institute for Research and Studies for Innovation and Development, P.O. Box 14442 Yaounde, Cameroon)

  • Benjamin Fomba Kamga

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, The University of Yaounde II, P.O. Box 18 Soa, Cameroon
    Institute for Research and Studies for Innovation and Development, P.O. Box 14442 Yaounde, Cameroon)

Abstract

Handwashing is one of the recommended measures during the COVID-19 period to limit the spread of the disease and also contributes to the prevention of WASH-related illnesses. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of using a handwashing device on household healthcare expenditures in Cameroon, particularly during the period of strict COVID-19 strict restrictions. The data used were collected in September 2021 from 604 Cameroonian households in the Centre and Littoral regions as part of a study funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). To account for unobserved heterogeneity affecting both the decision to use a handwashing device and household healthcare expenditures, an Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model was employed. The results highlight that the main determinants of a household’s decision to use handwashing devices include environmental factors such as the region, given its importance in the implementation of communication strategies, as well as specific characteristics of the household head. Furthermore, the use of this device leads to a reduction of approximately 52% in healthcare expenditures for households that used it, which corresponds to an average amount of 12,900 CFA francs.

Suggested Citation

  • Michèle Estelle Ndonou Tchoumdop & Rodrigue Nda’chi Deffo & André Dumas Tsambou & Benjamin Fomba Kamga, 2025. "Handwashing and Household Health Expenditures Under COVID-19: Evidence from Cameroon," Economies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:13:y:2025:i:8:p:231-:d:1720165
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