scholarly journals Use of Mobile Phones in Improving Livelihoods among Horticultural Farmers in Parts of Kaduna Northern Guinea Savannah Eco-zone: Empirical Study of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State

2020 ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
A. I. Sodimu
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Transport Cost ◽  
Electricity Supply ◽  
Mobile Service ◽  
Horticultural Crop ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage

The study examined the use of mobile phones in improving the livelihoods of rural horticultural crop farmers in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Eighty (80) questionnaires were sampled among horticultural crop farmers who own and use mobile phones and seventy-six (76) questionnaires were retrieved. A multistage sampling technique was used in sampling the respondents. The data collected is analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results showed that 46.05% are males and 53.95% are females, 26.32% were between 31-40 years, 55.26% were married and 52.63% had at least secondary education. Data further revealed that 52.63% have owned handsets for at least 4-6years and 56.58% obtained the sets from personal savings. Mobile phone usage improved the livelihood in reducing transport cost which was highlighted by 96.05% of the sampled farmers, reduced exploitation/low pricing by middlemen and improved income of producers (84.21%). It also enhanced interaction among rural horticultural crop farmers at different locations (92.11%). Poor network coverage (39.47%), poor power supply (19.74%) and theft/loss of handsets (10.53%) are the major constraints associated with mobile phone usage. The regression analysis showed significant relationship between age, household size, educational status and use of mobile phone (P<0.05) level of significance. Therefore, it is recommended that Federal Government should improve electricity supply to rural farm communities and provides economic incentives, such as tax deductions for imported equipment, for mobile service providers to expand their mobile service coverage in rural/horticultural production areas. Furthermore, the state and local government should improve rural electricity supply to enable rural horticultural crops farmers utilize the full potentials of mobile phones.

scholarly journals Benefits of Mobile Phone Usage among Cassava Processors in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State

1970 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-96
Author(s):  
E.S. Salau ◽  
S. L. Kachiro ◽  
Y.M. Darason ◽  
J.E. Cyril
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Business Communication ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage

This study investigated the benefits of mobile phone usage among cassava processors in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 81 cassava processors across four processing centres as respondents. Data collection was by a structured interview schedule. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and a linear regression model. The results show that the majority (80.2%) of the respondents were females; the respondents’ mean age was 37 years. All (100%) the respondents had one level of education or the other with a greater proportion (49.4%) of them having primary education. Their mean monthly income was N88, 395.06. The majority (72.8%) of them owned mobile phones which they used for business communication with customers. There was high level (M>2.0) of use of mobile phones for business communication by the respondents. The perceived benefits of mobile phone usage were reduced cost of transportation (67.9%); stability of prices of raw materials (66.7%); easy access to market information (61.7%) among others. The regression results show that only membership of social group and ownership of mobile phone had significant effects on level of use of mobile phones for business communication. The major constraints to the use of mobile phones for business communication were poor mobile network services in rural areas (63%), Lack of /unstable power supply to charge phones (48.2%) and high cost of recharge cards (47%). It was recommended that governments at all levels should provide electricity to rural communities to promote agricultural production and processing. Cassava processors in the area need to be mobilized by extension service providers (ADP and private) to form cooperative groups to enhance their businesses.Key words: Mobile Phone, Entrepreneurship Skills, Cassava Processors.

scholarly journals Relationships Between the Usage of Televisions, Computers, and Mobile Phones and the Quality of Sleep in a Chinese Population: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao Jie Xie ◽  
Daphne SK Cheung ◽  
Alice Y Loke ◽  
Bernice L Nogueira ◽  
Karry M Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Chinese Population ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Computer Usage ◽  
Tv Viewing ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage

BACKGROUND No study has comprehensively investigated the association between the usage of typical screen-based electronic media devices and sleep quality in a Chinese population with individuals in a wide range of ages. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to understand the characteristics of television (TV) viewing, computer usage, and mobile phone usage in a representative Chinese population in Macau and to examine their roles in predicting the variations in sleep quality. METHODS This cross-sectional study was an analysis of 1500 Macau residents aged 15 to 90 years based on a community-based health needs assessment study entitled, “Healthy Living, Longer Lives.” Data collection was conducted in 7 districts of Macau from 2017 to 2018 through face-to-face interviews. The durations of daily TV viewing, computer usage, and mobile phone usage were recorded in a self-administered questionnaire. The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess the sleep quality. RESULTS The prevalence of TV, computer, and mobile phone usage was 78.4% (1176/1500), 51.6% (769/1490), and 85.5% (1276/1492), respectively. The average daily hours of usage were 1.75 (1.62), 1.53 (2.26), and 2.85 (2.47) hours, respectively. Females spent more time watching TV (<i>P</i>=.03) and using mobile phones (<i>P</i>=.02) and less time on the computer (<i>P</i>=.04) as compared to males. Older adults were more likely to watch TV while young people spent more time using the computer and mobile phones (<i>P</i> for all trends&lt;.001). The mean PSQI global score was 4.79 (2.80) among the participants. Females exhibited significantly higher PSQI scores than males (5.04 vs 4.49, respectively; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). No linear association was observed between the PSQI score and the amount of time spent on the 3 electronic devices (<i>P</i>=.58 for PSQI-TV, <i>P</i>=.05 for PSQI-computer, and <i>P</i>=.52 for PSQI-mobile phone). Curve estimation showed significant quadratic curvilinear associations in PSQI-TV (<i>P</i>=.003) and PSQI-computer (<i>P</i>&lt;.001) among all the participants and in PSQI-mobile phone among youths (age, 15-24 years; <i>P</i>=.04). After adjustment of the gender, age, body mass index, demographics, and lifestyle factors, more than 3 hours of TV viewing and 4 hours of computer usage or mobile phone usage was associated with 85% (95% CI 1.04-1.87; <i>P</i>=.008), 72% (95% CI 1.01-2.92; <i>P</i>=.045), and 53% (95% CI 1.06-2.22; <i>P</i>=.03) greater odds of having poor sleep quality (PSQI score&gt;5), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The mobile phone was the most popular screen-based electronic device used in the Macau population, especially among young people. “J” shape associations were observed between sleep quality and the duration of TV viewing, computer usage, and mobile phone usage, indicating that the extreme use of screen-based electronic devices predicted poorer sleep status, whereas moderate use would be acceptable.

Health Effects of Mobile Phone Usage

2015 ◽  
pp. 607-629
Author(s):  
Angelo Levis ◽  
Laura Masiero ◽  
Paolo Orio ◽  
Susan Biggin ◽  
Spiridione Garbisa
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Radiofrequency Radiation ◽  
Head Tumors ◽  
Chronic Effects ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage ◽  
Acute And Chronic Effects

Uncertainty about the association between health risks and exposure to radiofrequency radiation emitted by cellular and cordless mobile phones can be addressed by a critical analysis of the methodology used in studies assessing this relationship. Studies funded by cellphone companies give reassuring conclusions but are affected by biases and flaws, whereas public-funded studies are without these errors and show acute and chronic effects, including head tumors, findings supported by biological evidence.

Mobile Fractal Generation

2011 ◽  
pp. 399-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel C. Doolan ◽  
Sabin Tabirca ◽  
Laurence T. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Ubiquitous Computing ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
New Age ◽  
Mandelbrot Set ◽  
Processing Task ◽  
The Past ◽  
Fractal Images ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage

Ever since the discovery of the Mandelbrot set, the use of computers to visualise fractal images have been an essential component. We are looking at the dawn of a new age, the age of ubiquitous computing. With many countries having near 100% mobile phone usage, there is clearly a potentially huge computation resource becoming available. In the past years there have been a few applications developed to generate fractal images on mobile phones. This chapter discusses three possible methodologies whereby such images can be visualised on mobile devices. These methods include: the generation of an image on a phone, the use of a server to generate the image and finally the use of a network of phones to distribute the processing task.

scholarly journals Healthcare Professionals Perception of Mobile Phone Usage and Hand Hygiene Adhesion in Intensive Care Units

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s346-s346
Author(s):  
Evelyn Sanchez ◽  
Lauro Perdigão-Neto ◽  
Sânia Alves dos Santos ◽  
Camila Rizek ◽  
Maria Renata Gomez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Hand Hygiene Compliance ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
First Choice ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage ◽  
Hygiene Compliance

Background: The introduction of new technologies into the medical field has the duality of improvement and concerns about correct usage and cleaning. Mobile phones are used by healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the work place, and there is not an official policy about their use in health environment. Methods: We asked 60 intensive care unit (ICU) HCPs from 2 units (the burn unit and the internal medicine unit) to participate in an electronic survey about mobile phone usage and hand hygiene compliance; we also cultured the hands and mobile phones of the participants. Unfortunately, 13 HCPs did not participate. Susceptibility testing of the strains was conducted, as well as molecular testing. Results: Overall, 47 HCPs responded to the inquiry: 19% were nurses (9 of 47), 19% were resident physicians (9 of 47), 17% were nursery technicians (8 of 47), 17% were physiotherapists (8 of 47), 13% were cleaning staff (6 of 47), 11% were consultants (5 of 47), and 4% were technicians (2 of 47). Moreover, 26 of 47 participants (55%) were woman and 21 (45%) were men. From all HCP categories, 39 of 47 respondents (83%) reported that they had optimal hand hygiene compliance. However, 92% of respondents had a colonized hand and 90% had a colonized mobile phone. Also, 44 of 47 HCPs (94%) reported that the took their personal mobile phone into the workplace; 40 (85%) reported that they used it during the work day and 35 (74%) reported that they cleaned it. However, 8 HCPs (26%) reported that they had never cleaned the device. All of the HCPs understood that mobile phones can harbor bacteria, and 27 of 47 HCPs (57.45%) indicated that they use 70% alcohol to clean their mobile phones. In contrast, the first choice for hand hygiene was water and soap in 51% of HCPs (24 of 47). Also, 3 HCPs did not have any colonization in the hand culture but had healthcare-associated infection (HAI) pathogens in the mobile phone culture. Conclusions: A policy regarding mobile phone usage in the healthcare setting should be in place, and cleaning of electronic devices in hospitals should be standardized.Funding: NoneDisclosures: NoneFunding: NoneDisclosures: None

Is (the study of) mobile phones old wine in a new bottle? A polemic on communication-based acculturation research

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 806-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajiv George Aricat
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Work Productivity ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Labor Migrants ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage ◽  
Mobile Phone Communication

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to critically analyze the discourses on migrant acculturation and migrants’ mobile phone communication, in order to examine the inclusiveness of communication-acculturation research in the recent years. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on from 102 qualitative interviews (48 Malayali, 26 Bangla, 17 Tamil and 11 Telugu) for a larger research project that investigated the role of mobile phones in migrant acculturation in Singapore. Respondents were selected using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods. The respondents had been in Singapore for varying amount of time: from one month to 19 years. Findings – The analysis of the discourses on migrant acculturation and mobile phone communication revealed that labor migrants were excluded on the basis of their temporary status and apprehensions on work productivity. The mobile usage prohibitions that existed in work sites were hinged on similar discourses that stereotyped the labor migrants. The emancipatory metaphor that has been at the center of research on migrants’ mobile phone usage and acculturation needs to be replaced with a critical discourse perspective. Research limitations/implications – The data were originally collected for a research project that approached the phenomena of acculturation and mobile phone appropriation from a positivist perspective, whereas this paper analyzed the data to critically examine the discourses that supported the premise of the project itself. Due to this, the findings presented in this paper have limited scope for generalization. Originality/value – The paper critiques the research trends in migrant acculturation and mobile phone communication and suggests a possible alternative that goes beyond the “transcendental teleology” that underpins discourse and practice.

scholarly journals The potential of mobile phones for increasing public participation in local government in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Thinyane ◽  
Ingrid Siebörger ◽  
Edward Reynell
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Current State ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage ◽  
Ict For Development

This paper presents a critical discussion on the current use of technology and participation in local government. It discusses the rise in popularity of mobile devices, and how they have been used in ICT for development. The paper describes the results of a baseline study undertaken in a city within Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, to empirically investigate how residents are currently using mobile phones and participating with local government around the area of service delivery. The findings illustrate the current state of mobile phone usage and capabilities, and the potential for using the mobile platform to increase participation in local government in South Africa. The paper also can be used to inform and guide project stakeholders on how best to implement m-participation strategies.

scholarly journals Use of Mobile Phone and In-Vehicle Interaction: A Case study among selected students in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-132
Author(s):  
Olabisi Olapoju
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Mobile Phone Use ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage

Mobile phone use among university students is now pervasively altering their social interaction with others. The study investigated the influence of mobile phone use among commuting University Students on their interaction with co-travellers and the environment through which they travel. Three hundred students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria were purposively sampled to respond to a 10-minute questionnaire. The questionnaire contained questions such as ownership of mobile phones, type and number of phones owned, frequency of usage and the influence of mobile phone usage during transit on interaction between the students and their co-travelers and with the environment they traveled through. Results showed that all the respondents possessed at least one mobile phone. In addition, results revealed a negative correlation between time of use of mobile phone and interaction with co-travelers (α=0.05, r= -0.039) and no significant correlation between length of use of mobile phone and interaction with the environment (α=0.05, r=0.079). The study established that mobile phone intrusiveness has an influence on students' interaction during commuting.

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