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)
29%Smartphone Ownership
2%Uses Mobile for Financial Transactions
0%
Reach and Connection
Phone use is largely limited to making and receiving calls. She rarely operates the phone herself, with dialing and call management mostly handled by others.
Entertainment and Stress Relief
May listen to the radio when it is tuned by someone else. Engagement is entirely passive and dependent on others, with no control over content selection.
Learning and Growth
May listen to health-related information on the radio if it is tuned by someone else. Learning appears to be entirely passive, with no control over content selection or intent to seek information.
Transactions and Financial Security
No independent use of digital financial services.
Self Promotion and Expression
Limited or no engagement in self-promotion or expression.
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
0%Partner Works in a Professional or Managerial Role
2%Has Year Long Employment or Livelihood Activity
29%
Access to Device and Consumables
Hardly any early access to devices.
Is more likely to depend on shared phones. Even if someone buys a phone for her or gives her a hand me down phone it is likely operated by someone else.
Does not require airtime to be purchased.
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
0%Cannot Read at All
100%Has Secondary and Above Education
1%
Base Capabilities
Lack of prior digital exposure and literacy leads to complete dependency on others for digital use.
Learning Style
Learning styles aren’t observed as phone use is almost entirely by proxy.
Learning Needs
Almost entirely dependent on someone else to make calls, recharge airtime, and manage basic phone use.
Facilitators
Children or family members carry out all actions for her, without attempting to teach.
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
38%Participates in Household Decision Making
21%Household has Electricity
5%
Disruptions caused by Financial Shocks, Damage, Degradation and Loss
Disruptions have minimal impact. Access already depends on others’ phones, so disruptions do not meaningfully change her digital situation.
Managing Recurring Costs (data, airtime etc.)
Use is often dependent on others’ devices and airtime recharge is not a direct challenge.
Charging Cycles
Use is often dependent on others’ devices and charging is unlikely to be a direct challenge.
Norms, Control and Coercion
Normative scrutiny is likely to be minimal, as digital use is very limited. Older women in these groups, especially those with little early digital exposure, may not recognise its value and may internalise and reinforce restrictive gender norms. This tendency is often stronger among more vulnerable women with limited education.
Perception of Risk
Likely has very limited awareness of digital threats.
Response to Digital Risk
Likely has very limited awareness of digital threats.