Women’s participation in microfinance: Does it increase their control over resources?

ABSTRACT

This study drew on asset theory to explore the influence of microfinance participation on control over resources among women in Bangladesh. The association between microfinance participation and control over resources among women in Bangladesh was examined. Prevalence ratios were estimated for a sample of 9,614 women between the ages of 15 and 49 years drawn from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys of 2007, 2011, and 2014, controlling for potential confounders, including urban dwelling, the presence of wealth assets, exposure to media, the number of household members, gender of household head, religion, and demographic factors. The results showed that control over resources was positively associated with microfinance participation (PR = 1.03; p < 0.05), upholding asset theory’s prediction that asset accumulation—in this case via microfinance—enhances human capital.

KEYWORDS:

• Microfinance
• control
• over resources
• Bangladesh
• poverty

Acknowledgments

I acknowledge Macro International for making the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys available for analysis. My gratitude to all the men and women who participated in these surveys as well as the researchers who administered them.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.