Socio-Demographic Factors That Determine the Usage of Mobile Phones in Rural Communities

The aim of this study was to examine the perception and attitude of Nigerian rural dwellers as a gauge for determining whether there is (or not) perceived beneficial use of mobile technologies among rural inhabitants. It also tries to find out the factors that determine mobile phone usage in rural areas. Two factors that determine technology acceptance and use were identified: Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEU). A cross sectional research design was employed for this study using questionnaire as a data collection technique. Using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) V15, the findings showed that socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, status, level of education, occupation, income, and social influence are the major determinants of mobile phone ownership and usage in rural areas. It also showed that age and gender affect the perceived benefit and satisfaction of mobile phone in rural communities. It is believed that policy makers will find it helpful if they understood rural inhabitants' perception and attitude toward mobile phone.