Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Livelihoods and Disability: The Complexities of Work in the Global South

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Disability in the Global South

Abstract

Four-fifths of the world population lives in the global South (United Nations 2011), where disability prevalence is higher and livelihood challenges are greater than in developed countries or the global North (WHO and World Bank 2011; Mitra and Sambamoorthi 2014). Yet, the majority of research on disability and livelihoods (including studies on employment and economic wellbeing) has been conducted in the global North (OECD 2003). In the North, it is well established that people with disabilities have worse outcomes on a set of economic indicators than people without disabilities including lower employment rates, wages and earnings. This raises the question of whether similar outcomes are found in the global South. Most people with disabilities living in the global South experience compounded livelihood challenges related to general economic disadvantage as well as disability. Social support grants are mostly absent (see Schneider et al. 2016, in this volume), raising the question of how people with disabilities can maintain livelihoods and be integrated in income-generating activities such as employment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baldwin, M., & Johnson, W. G. (2005). A critical review of studies of discrimination against workers with disabilities. Cheltenham: Edward-Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bebbington, A. (1999). Capitals and capabilities: A framework for analyzing peasant viability, rural livelihoods and poverty. World Development, 27(12), 2021–2044.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biggeri, M., Deepak, S., Mauro, V., Trani, J., Kumar, J., & Ramasamy, P. (2013). Do community-based rehabilitation programmes promote the participation of persons with disabilities? A case control study from Mandya district, in India. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1–10. doi:10.3109/09638288.2013.823244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckup, S. (2009). The price of exclusion: The economic consequences of excluding people with disabilities from the world of work. Geneva: International Labour Office (ILO).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, R. (2007). Participation and poverty. Development, 50(2), 20–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, R., & Conway, G. R. (1991). Sustainable rural livelihoods: Practical concepts for the 21st century IDS discussion paper 296. Brighton: IDS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chirawu, P., Hanass-Hancock, J., Aderemi, T., de Reus, L., & Henken, A. (2014). Protect or enable? Teacher’s beliefs and practices regarding provision of sexuality education to learners with disability in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Sexuality and Disability, 32(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, W., Sanchez-Puerta, M., & Wuermli, A. (2010). Active labor market programs for youth: Teaching entrepreneurship: Impact of business training on microfinance clients and institutions. Review of Economics and Statistics, 93(2), 510–527.

    Google Scholar 

  • Czechowicz, J., Messner, A., Alarcon-Matutti, E., Alarcon, J., Quinones-Calderon, G., Montano, S., et al. (2010). Hearing impairment and poverty: The epidemiology of ear disease in Peruvian schoolchildren. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 142(2), 272–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deepak, S., Kumar, J., Ramasamy, P., & Griffo, G. (2014). An emancipatory research on CBR and the barriers faced by persons with disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 36(18), 1502–1507. doi:10.3109/09638288.2013.800914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DHAT. (2014). DHAT think tank report: Disability, HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health and rights. In DHAT & SAT (Eds.), Harare.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhungana, B. (2006). The lives of disabled women in Nepal: Vulnerability without support. Disability & Society, 21(2), 133–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyer, S. (Ed.). (2003). Credit is a need and a right: Inclusive policy and practice in micro finance: Mobility international.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eide, A. H., & Loeb, M. (2016). Counting disabled people: Historical perspectives and the challenges of disability statistics. In S. Grech & K. Soldatic (Eds.), Disability in the global South: The critical handbook. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrington, J., Carney, D., Ashley, C., & Turton, C. (1999). Sustainable livelihoods in practice: Early applications of concepts in rural areas natural resource perspectives (vol. 42).

    Google Scholar 

  • Filmer, D. (2008). Disability, poverty, and schooling in developing countries: Results from 14 household surveys. The World Bank Economic Review, 22(1), 141–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleisch, B., Shindler, J., & Parry, H. (2012). Who is out of school? Evidence from the Statistics South Africa Community Survey. International Journal of Educational Development, 21, 529–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frohmader, C., & Ortoleva, S. (2013). He sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls with disabilities. Paper presented at the International Conference on Population and Development: Beyond, Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, C. E., Shah, S. P., Jadoon, M. Z., Bourne, R., Dineen, B., & Khan, M. A. et al. (2008). Poverty and blindness in Pakistan: Results from the Pakistan national blindness and visual impairment survey. British Medical Journal, 336(7634), 29–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groce, N. E., Amy Farkas, M. K., Schultink, W., & Bieler, R. B. (2013). Inclusive nutrition for children and adults with disabilities. The Lancet, 1, 180–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groce, N. E., Kembhavi, G., Wirz, S., Lang, R., Trani, J.-F., & Kett, M. (2011). Poverty and disability—A critical review of the literature in low and middle-income countries: UCL. London: Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanass-Hancock, J. (2009). Disability and HIV/AIDS—A systematic review of literature in Africa. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 12(34). doi:10.1186/1758-2652-12-34

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanass-Hancock, J., & Casale, M. (2014). An exploratory model to illustrate the interrelationship between HIV, disability and care giving in southern Africa. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 25(4), 351–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ICDR, DHAT, & HEARD. (2011). Sepo Study Report. Toronto: ICDR.

    Google Scholar 

  • ILO. (2008). Skills training through community based rehabilitation (CBR): A good practice guide. Geneva: ILO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingstad, B., & Grut, L. (2007). Seeme, and do not forget me. People with disabilities in Kenya SINTEF Health Research. Norway: SITEF.

    Google Scholar 

  • IRP. (n. d.). Intervention strategy for sustainable livelihood recovery and selected case studies. In IRP (Ed.), Unknown: International recovery platform (IRP).

    Google Scholar 

  • Izumi, K. (2007). “Forgotten Gifts”—Children with disabilities in Zimbabwe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kagee. (2014). Do disability grants influence adherence to antiretroviral therapy? African Journal of Disability, 3(1), 6. doi:10.4102/ajod.v4103i4101.4100

  • Kiani, S. (2009). Women with disabilities in the north west province of Cameroon: Resilient and deserving of greater attention. Disability & Society, 24(4), 517–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuipers, P., & Sabuni, L. P. (2016). Community-based rehabilitation and disability-inclusive development: On a winding path to an uncertain destination. In S. Grech & K. Soldatic (Eds.), Disability in the global South: The critical handbook. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuper, H., Solomon, A. W., Buchan, J., Zondervan, M., Foster, A., & Mabey, D. (2003). A critical review of the SAFE strategy for the prevention of blinding trachoma. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 3(6), 372–381. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(03)00659-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Leach, M., Mearns, R., & Scoones, I. (1997). Challenges to community based sustainable development: Dynamics, entitlements, institutions IDS Bulletin. London: Institute of Development Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, N., Pang, L., Du, W., Chen, G., & Zheng, X. (2012). Association between poverty and psychiatric disability among Chinese population aged 15-64 years. Psychiatry Research, 200(2–3), 917–920. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2012.05.026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loeb, M. (2004). Living conditions among people with activity limitations in Malawi. Malawi: A National Representative Study.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loeb, M., Eide, A. H., Jelsma, J., Mzolisi Ka, T., & Maart, S. (2013). Poverty and disability in Eastern and Western Cape Provinces, South Africa. Disability & Society, 23(4), 311–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macgregor, H. (2006). ‘The Grant is What I Eat’: The politics of social security and disability in the post-apartheid South African State. Journal of Biosocial Science, 38(1), 43–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misselhorn, A. A. (2009). Is a focus on social capital useful in considering food security interventions? Insights from KwaZulu Nata. Development Southern Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitra, S., & Sambamoorthi, U. (2008). Disability and the rural labor market in India: Evidence for males in Tamil Nadu. World Development, 36(5), 934–952.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitra, S., & Sambamoorthi, U. (2014). Disability prevalence among adults: Estimates for 54 countries and progress toward a global estimate. Disability & Rehabilitation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizunoya, S., & Mitra, S. (2013). Is there a disability gap in employment rates in developing countries? World development. Elsevier, 42(C), 28–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munoz, W., Last, U., & Kimsean, T. (2010). Good practices from the project: Towards sustainable income generating activities for mine victim and other persons with disabilities in Cambodia Employment challenges and success.

    Google Scholar 

  • Narayan, D., Patel, K., Schafft, A., Rademacher, & Kocj-Schulte, S. (2000). Couves of the poor Volume 2 Can anyone hear us? (vol. 2). New York: Oxford University Press for the World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Treasury & South African Revenue Service. (2013). 2013 tax statistics. Pretoria: National Treasury and SARS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nattrass, N. (2005). AIDS, unemployment and disability in South Africa: The case for welfare reform. Southern African Journal for AIDS Medicine, 20, 30–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nokrek, P., Alam, M. A., & Muzzafar, A. (2013). Livelihood challenges for extremely poor disabled people in the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh. Shiree Working Paper No. 12. Dhaka, Bangladesh: Shiree.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD. (2003). Towards more and better jobs: OECD Employment Outlook.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phaswana-Mafuya, N., Peltzer, K., & Petros, S. G. (2009). Disability grant for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Social Work in Health Care, 48(5), 533–550.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohleder, P., & Swartz, L. (2012). Disability, sexuality and sexual health. In P. Aggleton, P. Boyce, H. L. Moore, & P. Richard (Eds.), Understanding global sexualities: New frontiers (pp. 138–152). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, M., Graham, L., & Mokomane, Z. (2016). Social protection, chronic poverty and disability: Applying an intersectionality perspective. In S. Grech & K. Soldatic (Eds.), Disability in the global South: The critical handbook. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scoones, I. (1998). Sustainable rural livelihoods: A framework for analysis. IDS Working Paper 72. Brighten: Institute for Development Studies United Kingdom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shahnavaz, H. (1987). Workplace injuries in the developing countries. Ergonomics, 30(2), 397–404. doi:10.1080/00140138708969725.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, M. (2007). Evaluation in community based rehabilitation programmes: A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis. Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal, 18(1), 46–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyman, A. E. (2009). Factors with regard to the Attainment of Workplace Equality as perceived by People with Disabilities (Master). University of South Africa, Johannesburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soldatic, K. (2013). Appointment time: Disability and neoliberal workfare temporalities. Critical Sociology, 39(3), 405–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spurway, K., & Griffiths, T. (2016). Disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction: Vulnerability and resilience discourses, policies and practices. In S. Grech & K. Soldatic (Eds.), Disability in the global South: The critical handbook. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swartz, L., & Bantjes, J. (2016). Disability and global health. In S. Grech & K. Soldatic (Eds.), Disability in the global South: The critical handbook. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trickle Up. (2013). Disability, poverty and livelihoods: Guidance from Trickle Up. Retrieved May 12, 2015, from http://www.trickleup.org/media/publications/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=5056.

  • UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCAP. (2012). Disability, livelihood and poverty in Asia and the Pacific. An executive summary of research findings. Thailand: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. (2010). EFA Global Monitoring Report 2010. Reaching the marginalized. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nation Development Programme [UNDP]. (2012). Livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities. India: UNDP.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (2011). Rural population, development and the environment. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Retrieved May 1, 2012, from http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/2011RuralPopDevEnv_Chart/ruralpopdevenv2011wallchart.html

  • Van der Heijden, I. (2014). What works to prevent violence against women with disabilities. Pretoria: What Works to Prevent Violence, Medical Research Council of South Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Victoria, C., Wagstaff, A., Schellenberg, J., Gwatkin, D., Claeson, M., & Habicht, J. (2003). Applying an equity lens to child health and mortality: More of the same is not enough. The Lancet, 362, 233–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker-Bone, K., & Palmer, K. (2002). Musculoskeletal disorders in farmers and farm workers. Occupational Medicine, 52(8), 441–450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO and World Bank. (2011). World report on disability. Geneva: World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickenden, M., & Elphick, J. (2016). Don’t forget us, we are here too! Listening to disabled children and their families living in poverty. In S. Grech & K. Soldatic (Eds.), Disability in the global South: The critical handbook. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., & Davis, I. (2003). At risk: Natural hazards, people’s vulnerabilities and disasters (2nd ed.). Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida, K., Hanass-Hancock, J., Nixon, S., & Bond, V. (2014). Using Intersectionality to Explore Experiences of Disability and HIV among Women and Men in Zambia. Disability and Rehabilitation.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. South African Medical Reseach Council, Durban, South Africa

    Jill Hanass-Hancock

  2. Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA

    Sophie Mitra

Authors
  1. Jill Hanass-Hancock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sophie Mitra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sophie Mitra .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Global Disability Research, The Critical Institute, Attard, Malta

    Shaun Grech

  2. Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia

    Karen Soldatic

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hanass-Hancock, J., Mitra, S. (2016). Livelihoods and Disability: The Complexities of Work in the Global South. In: Grech, S., Soldatic, K. (eds) Disability in the Global South. International Perspectives on Social Policy, Administration, and Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42488-0_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42488-0_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42486-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42488-0

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation