Disability in the Maldives

Maldives Above the Surface The sea is rising, but no clear plan for people with disabilities. Behind the scenes on reporting. (2023, Lens15)

Exploring demographic and health survey data (2023, Disability Data Initiative)

Social Protection

The Impact of the Disability Allowance on Financial Well-Being Quasi-experimental Study:

“Overall, this study found a modest impact of the Disability Allowance, mainly in food security. Receipt of the Disability Allowance was attributable to a decrease in the use of negative coping mechanisms in response to food insecurity and an increase in the food proportion of household consumption expenditures.” (2023, The European Journal of Development Research)

Access to the Disability Allowance in the Maldives: National coverage and factors affecting uptake: “This research found that 25.6% of people with disabilities across the Maldives are receiving the Disability Allowance. Coverage was lowest for women, older adults, people living in the capital (Malé), wealthier households and people with sensory impairments. Factors affecting uptake included lack of information about the programme, perceptions of disability and eligibility criteria, geographical and financial factors, and stigma.” (2022, Global Social Policy)

Process evaluation of the Disability Allowance programme in the Maldives. “Most importantly, the absence of linkages with the Medical Welfare scheme that provides assistive devices potentially limits the likelihood of the programme achieving intended objectives.” (2022, International Social Security Review)

Assessing disability inclusion in health systems performance The process of developing and piloting a tool in the Maldives and Zimbabwe. An indicator set that allows description of disability-inclusion in health systems. (2024, SSM - Health Systems)

Disability and the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (2022, Plos One)