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<p>We examine how the interaction between religiosity and digital financial services (DFS) mitigates the vulnerability of marginalised populations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. We found that while religiosity is positively associated with COVID-19 exposure, potentially due to communal worship practices, beliefs, and activities, it is negatively associated with four key vulnerability indicators, indicating its protective role in cushioning psychological, social, and economic shocks during pandemics. Similarly, we found that the DFS significantly reduced the overall vulnerability to COVID-19 by enabling contactless financial transactions and access to critical resources. Our findings reveal that combining religiosity and DFS has a synergistic effect, enhancing resilience and reducing vulnerabilities during pandemics. By uniquely integrating religious coping mechanisms and digital financial inclusion, our study contributes to the existing literature by providing new empirical insights into how their interplay influences pandemic-induced vulnerabilities. It also provides a framework for pandemic response that incorporates both faith-based social capital and digital financial infrastructure. These insights have implications for governments and policymakers who seek to integrate trusted religious networks with DFS platforms to strengthen support systems for the vulnerable during pandemics. Our findings can promote the design and development of programs that integrate religiosity and DFS components to build psychological resilience in vulnerable populations during crises.</p>

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Do Digital Financial Services and Religious Beliefs Ameliorate the Plight of Ghanaian Vulnerable Populations in the Era of Pandemics?

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月6日

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  • Mohammed Amidu,
  • Agnes Akpene Akakpo,
  • Teddy Ossei Kwakye,
  • Mawuena Akosua Cudjoe

摘要

We examine how the interaction between religiosity and digital financial services (DFS) mitigates the vulnerability of marginalised populations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. We found that while religiosity is positively associated with COVID-19 exposure, potentially due to communal worship practices, beliefs, and activities, it is negatively associated with four key vulnerability indicators, indicating its protective role in cushioning psychological, social, and economic shocks during pandemics. Similarly, we found that the DFS significantly reduced the overall vulnerability to COVID-19 by enabling contactless financial transactions and access to critical resources. Our findings reveal that combining religiosity and DFS has a synergistic effect, enhancing resilience and reducing vulnerabilities during pandemics. By uniquely integrating religious coping mechanisms and digital financial inclusion, our study contributes to the existing literature by providing new empirical insights into how their interplay influences pandemic-induced vulnerabilities. It also provides a framework for pandemic response that incorporates both faith-based social capital and digital financial infrastructure. These insights have implications for governments and policymakers who seek to integrate trusted religious networks with DFS platforms to strengthen support systems for the vulnerable during pandemics. Our findings can promote the design and development of programs that integrate religiosity and DFS components to build psychological resilience in vulnerable populations during crises.