Caribbean (2007): Price as a Barrier to Condom Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines

This report describes the results of an experiment aimed at determining whether and how a condom price reduction in Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines would affect condom purchase and use and the overall condom market. A representative sample of sexually active males, ages 16-21, resident in Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A randomized control trial was conducted with three treatment groups, one was offered the condom at $0.15 per condom in a package of three and the two others at $0.20 and $0.25 per condom in a package of three respectively. A two stage cluster sample was used, resulting in 819 completed interviews. Respondents were asked about their condom purchase and use behavior and then offered a package of three condoms, of a brand not currently offered on the market. By offering the new condom brand, respondents did not have a predetermined conception of price, thus replicating the decision making process that a consumer goes through when a new brand is launched. Once the interview was completed, respondents were offered the product to buy at one of the three price levels.本报告详述了一项实验的研究结果，该实验旨在探究特立尼达和多巴哥与圣文森特和格林纳丁斯实施安全套降价举措后，是否以及如何对安全套的购买、使用行为及整体安全套市场产生影响。本次研究选取居住于上述两国、年龄介于16至21岁的性活跃男性作为代表性样本。研究采用随机对照试验（Randomized Controlled Trial, RCT）设计，设置三组干预组别：其中一组以每只0.15美元的价格提供3只装安全套套餐，另外两组则分别以每只0.20美元与0.25美元的单价售卖同款3只装套餐。本次研究采用两阶段整群抽样法，最终完成有效访谈819份。受访者首先需回答有关自身安全套购买与使用行为的相关问题，随后研究人员会向其提供一款当前市场尚未发售的安全套品牌的3只装套餐。通过引入全新品牌的安全套，可规避受访者既有价格认知的干扰，从而复刻消费者在全新品牌上市时的实际决策流程。访谈结束后，研究人员将按照前述三种价格档位之一，向受访者售卖该款安全套产品。