Urban–rural differences in women's use of mobile money and the underlying determinants: Evidence from Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey

Mobile money (MM) is pivotal to improving financial inclusion and socio-economic well-being. However, many women in developing countries are excluded from its use. While there are existing studies that have interrogated the predictors of MM use by women, the problem persists in most low-and-middle-income countries probably due to the scarcity of location specific interventions in addressing the low rates. Thus, this study examines the determinants of MM use by women at a local context disaggregated along national, rural, and urban scales in Nigeria to achieve effective policy formulation tailored towards the uniqueness of the different geographical locations. Drawing on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, this study provides evidence that MM use by women varies substantially between urban and rural areas and these disparities are driven by spatial differences in socio-economic, enabling, and contextual factors. The study recommends that policy makers need to address women's socio-economic problems from a spatial viewpoint to ensure that they fully benefit from the advantages of MM.