Financial inclusion for people with disability: a scoping review

ABSTRACT

Background

Financial exclusion is a human rights issue affecting health equity. Evidence demonstrates that financial exclusion is exacerbated for people with disability and those in low- to middle-income countries (LMIC). Barriers to financial access include limited demand for services, banking inadequacies in catering to people with disability, and insufficiently accessible information technologies (ICT) and infrastructure.

Objectives

This scoping review sought to identify barriers to and facilitators of financial inclusion for people with disability in LMIC. As a secondary objective, the study explored the potential of financial education and ICT utilisation as viable strategies for enhancing financial inclusion.

Methods

This review utilised the Arksey and O’Malley framework and PRISMA Checklist for systematic literature examination and data extraction. The WHO’s Environmental Factors guided the analysis to propose potential interventions and to generate recommendations.

Results

The review analysed 26 publications from various global regions and fields including finance, business, technology, health and disability policy. It identified consistent financial inclusion barriers for people with disability, resulting in a set of global recommendations across attitudes, environment, technology, services, and policy.

Conclusions

Recommendations include using ICT, digital innovation and multi-stakeholder collaboration to address the financial barriers experienced by people with disability. These efforts, rooted in social justice, aim to include people with disability in LMIC as valued financial sector participants, promoting health and equity.

Paper context

• Main findings: There are global access barriers and enablers to financial inclusion for people living with disability. Recommendations to improve access include countering stigma and attitudinal barriers, engaging in user centred design of financial services,providing financial education and ensuring accessibility of assistive technology and ICT, along with the physical environment of the bank.

• Added knowledge: This study reviews the literature and offers a global overview of financial inclusion for people with disabilities, along with recommendations for universally applicable actions to enhance access.

• Global health impact for policy and action: Identifying barriers to financial inclusion and suggesting strategies to overcome them provides valuable guidance for policymakers and advocates working to improve access to financial services for people with disability.

KEYWORDS:

• Financial inclusion
• ICT
• disability
• banking
• assistive technology
• training
• exclusion

Responsible Editor Jennifer Stewart Williams

Responsible Editor Jennifer Stewart Williams

Acknowledgments

Knowledge developed through AT2030, a programme funded by UK Aid and led by the Global Disability Innovation Hub, has contributed to this output. We are grateful for the strategic advice regarding financial inclusion provided by Ms Pollyanna Wardrop and Ms Elaine Draper of the Global Disability Innovation Hub.

Authors’ contributions

NL and AS conceptualised the review. NL, AS and LP designed the methodology. LP and NL executed the literature searches. LP and NL extracted and conducted initial analysis of the data. LP, NL, AS and DB analysed and interpreted the data. LP prepared the first draft of the manuscript. LP, NL, AS and DB reviewed the manuscript providing critical review, read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Availability of data and materials

All articles included in this review are listed in Table 1 and are listed in the reference list. The complete set of data generated during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by Monash Business School’s Interdisciplinary Seed Funding Scheme (2023).