# Averting Behavior Framework for Perceived Risk ofYersinia enterocolitica Infections

Authors: Sonia N. Aziz; Khwaja M. S. Aziz
Journal: Journal of Pathogens
 (2012)

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## Abstract

The focus of this
research is to present a theoretical model of
averting actions that households take to avoid
exposure toYersinia
enterocolitica  in contaminated food.
The cost of illness approach only takes into
account the value of a cure, while the averting
behavior approach can estimate the value of
preventing the illness. The household, rather
than the individual, is the unit of analysis in
this model, where one household member is
primarily responsible for procuring
uncontaminated food for their family. Since
children are particularly susceptible and live
with parents who are primary decision makers for
sustenance, the designated household head makes
the choices that are investigated in this paper.
This model uses constrained optimization to
characterize activities that may offer
protection from exposure to Yersinia
enterocolitica contaminated food. A
representative household decision maker is
assumed to allocate family resources to maximize
utility of an altruistic parent, an assumption
used in most research involving economics of the
family.


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## Body


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*Source: 725373-2012-03-07.xml*