Table 2 Mobile phone ownership and patterns of use
Characteristic | < age 30 (n = 187) | ≥ age 30 (n = 177) | Total sample (N = 364) | P-valuea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mobile phone type | ||||
 Basic | 60 (32.1%) | 68 (38.4%) | 128 (35.2%) | 0.001 |
 Smart/Feature | 127 (67.9%) | 98 (55.4%) | 225 (61.81%) | |
 Unknown | 0 (0%) | 11 (6.21%) | 11 (3.0%) | |
Cash purchase of phone (as opposed to contract) | 177 (94.7%) | 169 (95.5%) | 346 (95.1%) | 0.716 |
Median time owned mobile phone (IQR) | 12 months (5–24) | 8 months (6–36) | 12 months (5–30) | < 0.001 |
Ever lost or had mobile phone stolen | 115 (61.5%) | 95 (53.7%) | 210 (57.7%) | 0.031 |
Someone else has access to phone | 99 (52.9%) | 84 (47.5%) | 183 (50.3%) | 0.296 |
Owns SIM card | 183 (97.9%) | 174 (98.3%) | 357 (98.1%) | 0.758 |
Ever uses someone else’s SIM card | 12 (6.4%) | 8 (4.5%) | 20 (5.5%) | 0.427 |
Ways phone is used | ||||
 Receive SMS | 187 (100%) | 170 (96.1%) | 357 (98.1%) | 0.006b |
 Send SMS | 186 (99.5%) | 165 (93.2%) | 351 (96.4%) | 0.001b |
 Make calls | 187 (100%) | 177 (100%) | 364 (100%) | – |
 Receive calls | 187 (100%) | 175 (98.9%) | 362 (99.5%) | 0.236b |
 Send money | 13 (7%) | 14 (7.9%) | 27 (7.4%) | 0.727 |
 Receive money | 15 (8%) | 16 (9%) | 31 (8.5%) | 0.728 |
 WhatsApp | 103 (55.1%) | 67 (37.9%) | 170 (46.7%) | 0.001 |
 Mxit | 35 (18.7%) | 21 (11.9%) | 56 (15.4%) | 0.070 |
 Browse internet | 84 (44.9%) | 51 (28.8%) | 135 (37.1%) | 0.001 |
 Send/receive emails | 36 (19.3%) | 21 (11.9%) | 57 (15.7%) | 0.053 |