The impact of cybercafes on information services in Uganda

Gitta, Samuel; Ikoja-Odongo, J. R.

doi:10.5210/fm.v8i4.1043

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…The cybercafe was the most prominent alternative outlet for Internet access. Similar findings have been reported in Nigeria and Uganda 21–24 . Cybercafes are popular because they offer affordable pay‐as‐you use services.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

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The level of Internet access and ICT training for health information professionals in sub‐Saharan Africa

Ajuwon

Rhine

2008

Health Info Libraries J

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Background : Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are important tools for development. Despite its significant growth on a global scale, Internet access is limited in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Few studies have explored Internet access, use of electronic resources and ICT training among health information professionals in Africa. Objective : The study assessed Internet access, use of electronic resources and ICT training among health information professionals in SSA. Methods : A 26-item self-administered questionnaire in English and French was used for data collection. The questionnaire was completed by health information professionals from five Listservs and delegates at the 10th biannual Congress of the Association of Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA). Results : A total of 121 respondents participated in the study and, of those, 68% lived in their countries' capital. The majority (85.1%) had Internet access at work and 40.8% used cybercafes as alternative access points. Slightly less than two-thirds (61.2%) first learned to use ICT through self-teaching, whilst 70.2% had not received any formal training in the previous year. Eighty-eight per cent of respondents required further ICT training. Conclusions and recommendations : In SSA, freely available digital information resources are underutilized by health information professionals. ICT training is recommended to optimize use of digital resources. To harness these resources, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations must play a key role.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Previous studies have focused on knowledge and utilization of ICT among students, academics and health care professionals 21–26 . There has been little research in exploring Internet access and ICT competencies among health information professionals in SSA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The level of Internet access and ICT training for health information professionals in sub‐Saharan Africa

Ajuwon

Rhine

2008

Health Info Libraries J

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“…Adomi et al (2003) in a survey of cybercafés in Delta State, Nigeria, found that students ranked highest among users of cybercafés followed by businessmen, lecturers, and teachers. Similarly, a majority of the cybercafé users in surveys in Uganda (Gitta and Ikoja‐Odongo, 2003) and Botswana (Sairosse and Mutula, 2004) were students. Thus the clients that patronize cybercafés most are students, most of whom are financially dependent on their parents or guardians.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of a price increase on cybercafé services in Abraka, Nigeria

Adomi

2005

The Bottom Line

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Purpose -To survey the effects of a general price increase on cybercafé services in Abraka, Nigeria. The price increase introduced in September 2004 by the Association of Cybercafé Operators in Abraka (ACOA) failed due to customers' responses to it. The collapse of the pricing regime is investigated. Design/methodology/approach -Uses a literature review, questionnaire, interviews, and personal observations to gather data, and uses these data to determine reasons behind the pricing structure of cybercafés in Abraka, Nigeria, and customers' reactions to those pricing structures. Findings -Findings revealed that the cost of providing an alternative electrical power source ranked highest in what determined the price of cybercafé services prior to the period of the general price increase, followed by the ISP charge. A majority of the cybercafés experienced a drop in customer/client patronage, followed by a drop in daily income and customer dissatisfaction, due to the increased prices for internet service. Originality/value -All the cafés have reduced their prices in order to satisfy their customers. Most of them reduced their prices in order to increase customer/user patronage. It was suggested that an increase in cybercafé service prices should not be introduced again to permit more users access and to encourage them to use the internet in the cafés.

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“…The profile of telecentre users is either correlated with the underlying population profile or with variables like gender and income. Such studies on adoption/non-adoption measure the ability of telecentres to bridge the digital divide with respect to an absolute yardstick, and generally conclude that telecentres users tend to be young, educated, high income, not physically disabled males with some prior access to the internet (Adomi, 2007;Amariles, 2006;Chisenga, 2004;Etta and Parvyn Wamahiu, 2003;Eve and Brophy, 2001;Gitta and Ikoja Odongo, 2003;Haseloff, 2005;Hudson, 2001;Kumar and Best, 2006;Kuriyan et al, 2008;Mercer, 2006;Parkinson, 2005;Parkinson and Ramírez, 2006;Proenza, 2008;Robinson, 2004;Selwyn, 2003;Singh et al, 2013;Stewart, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Telecentres Go Where Mobile Phones Fear to Tread

Ray

Prasad

2014

Review of Market Integration

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As broadband becomes an integral part of universal service schemes in emerging economies, the lines between universal access to telephony and universal access to computing are blurring. This article focuses on the social inclusiveness of publicly funded telecentres in India. In contrast to the previous literature, it does not test their inclusiveness in absolute terms, but relative to the inclusiveness of mobile phones. Data from telecentres set up in two states in India under the National Common Service Centre Scheme shows that mobile and telecentre adoption is driven by different factors. This suggests that telecentre adoption could take precedence over mobile adoption in certain socio-economic categories like females and agriculturists. We show that this is indeed true among females where telecentres are substitutes for mobiles. Among males the two media behave as complements. This suggests that telecentres and mobiles must play complementary roles in bringing connectivity to rural areas. The optimism on telecentre performance with respect to women has to be tempered with a sober reflection on commercial viability.

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The impact of cybercafes on information services in Uganda

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

The level of Internet access and ICT training for health information professionals in sub‐Saharan Africa

The level of Internet access and ICT training for health information professionals in sub‐Saharan Africa

The effects of a price increase on cybercafé services in Abraka, Nigeria

Telecentres Go Where Mobile Phones Fear to Tread

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