Use of Mobile Phones in Boosting Socioeconomic Information Access and Utilisation among Tanzania Rural Communities

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a study that examined the use of mobile phones in strengthening socioeconomic information in rural Tanzania. The study was carried out in Bagamoyo and Monduli districts. Employing mainly a qualitative research design, the study gathered information from 69 agro-pastoralists drawn from the two districts using a semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The data collected was subjected to content and thematic analyses. The key findings suggest that the applications of mobile phones towards strengthening socioeconomic information in the selected districts of rural Tanzania supported the provision of varied socioeconomic information services. In particular, the mobile phone technology was found to support market price, transactions, health, security, banking, transportation and risk mitigation. On the other hand, the application of mobile phone in the provision of information services was found to be beset with challenges that deter the effective utilisation of the technology in rural Tanzania. Thus, the study recommends that rural development strategies should have a built-in element of fostering the application of mobile phone technology for the information accessibility and usability so that the necessary infrastructure and support system can be put in place.

Keywords: Mobile phone; Community information services; Rural Tanzania; Socioeconomic information