Assisted Basic
Engages with digital tools with real-time support, building basic capability through guided use.
Pathways Segment
Of Reproductive Age Women
12%- Largely Basic Phone
How do they use their phones?
Women use their phones to stay connected, manage financial transactions, consume entertainment, express themselves, and access information for everyday needs. Patterns of use are shaped by relevance, familiarity, and the constraints of their social and material contexts.
Mobile Ownership (DHS-8 2024)
10%Smartphone Ownership
0%Uses Mobile for Financial Transactions
14%
Reach and Connection
When there is access, use is likely to be limited to making and receiving calls on the phone.
Entertainment and Stress Relief
May listen to the radio and play simple mobile games on shared devices.
Learning and Growth
Lack of sustained access severely restricts learning opportunities
Transactions and Financial Security
May occasionally use digital finance via point of sale agents and others in their networks.
Self Promotion and Expression
Use does not extend to self-promotion or personal expression.
Tracking
Does not typically engage in financial or health tracking on digital devices.
How do they get access to their phones?
Access to phones is often mediated through family and social networks, with devices acquired, shared, or supported through these relationships. Patterns of ownership, control, and continuity vary across geographies and reflect broader gendered and economic conditions.
Is in the Top 40% by Household Wealth Nationally
53%Partner Works in a Professional or Managerial Role
11%Has Year Long Employment or Livelihood Activity
66%
Access to Device and Consumables
Likely had very limited exposure to phones early in life, with little or no access during childhood.
Are very unlikely to have sustained access to their own devices.
Device access is mostly dependent on others and thus they could go for long periods without access to airtime.
How do they learn how to use their phones?
Women build digital capability over time through a combination of early exposure, literacy, and support from others. Facilitators, such as family members, peers, or intermediaries often play a role in shaping how skills are developed and how confidence is built.
Can Read Full Sentences
29%Cannot Read at All
42%Has Secondary and Above Education
41%
Base Capabilities
Little to no exposure as a child combined with limited literacy likely makes learning digital a struggle.
Learning Style
May require sustained, repeated demonstrations over longer periods to learn. However, lack of sustained device access will limit opportunities.
Learning Needs
Limited and disrupted access likely means that learned skills are not maintained, requiring continued support.
Facilitators
Facilitation is crucial for most tasks but may lack access to reliable facilitators alongside devices.
What are the challenges they navigate?
Women navigate interruptions in access, limitations in resources, and a range of digital risks. Their use of phones is shaped by social expectations and relationship dynamics, which influence when, how, and how freely they are able to stay connected.
Has Internalised Domestic Violence
16%Participates in Household Decision Making
71%Household has Electricity
63%
Managing Recurring Costs (data, airtime etc.)
Limited device access is likely accompanied by airtime scarcity, making disruptions to access the norm.
Device Repair and Reliability
Are unlikely to have sustained access to reliable devices
Perception of Risk
May experience a general sense of fear or discomfort around digital spaces, which can lead to avoidance. Digital environments may be perceived as unsafe or risky, especially with obscenity and fraud.
Response to Digital Risk
Digital risk may not be actively managed, as use remains limited or is avoided altogether.