MICROFINANCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: EVIDENCE FROM RURAL BANGLADESH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67120/jkkniujss.v6.i1.a70Keywords:
Microfinance,, Poverty,, People with disabilities (PWDs),Abstract
This study examines the role of microfinance in promoting entrepreneurship and enhancing financial support and security for people with disabilities (PWDs) in rural Bangladesh. A mixed-methods approach was employed to identify the barriers and enabling factors influencing access to microcredit and related financial services. Primary data were collected from PWDs in rural areas using a structured questionnaire (N=50), while secondary data were obtained from published journal articles, books, newspapers, and government documents. The findings indicate that microfinance access (MF scale) is strongly and positively associated with entrepreneurship (ENT scale) (r = 0.717, p < 0.01). Regression analysis further showed that microfinance access was a significant positive predictor of entrepreneurship among PWDs (β = 0.713, p < 0.001), explaining 51.5% of the variance in entrepreneurship. The inclusion of perceived impact improved the model's explanatory power (R² = 0.705); however, because the perceived impact scale may partly reflect outcomes associated with entrepreneurial success, this relationship is interpreted as associative rather than causal. The study also identifies the types of business activities undertaken by PWD entrepreneurs and highlights the major barriers and enabling factors affecting their entrepreneurial success. Based on these findings, the study recommends that policymakers and microfinance practitioners adopt a holistic approach that goes beyond loan disbursement, integrating training, business development support, and social inclusion initiatives to promote sustainable entrepreneurship among PWDs in rural Bangladesh.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Md. Alomgir Hossan, Dr. Bibi Morium (Author)
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