Table 3 Selected characteristics of participants in the access to and use of mobile phones survey

 N

30

97

127

 Age

56 (13)

55 (12)

55 (12)

Primary (%)

37

33

34

High (%)

63

67

66

 Employed (%)

37

25

27

 Social grant access (if unemployed) (%)

84

77

78

 I have regular (daily) access to a mobile phone, n(%)

25 (83)

90 (93)

115 (90)

 I own my own mobile phone, n(%)

21 (70)

75 (77)

96 (76)

 I regularly share my phone with other people, n(%)

4 (13)

26 (27)

30 (24)

 My phone is with me most or all of the time, n(%)

20 (67)

80 (82)

100 (79)

 I have had the same mobile phone number for 2 or more years, n(%)

18 (60)

62 (64)

80 (63)

 This phone number is registered to my identity number, n(%)

20 (67)

77 (79)

97 (76)

 I would act to keep my same number even if my phone was lost or stolen or I changed provider, n(%)

23 (77)

85 (88)

108 (85)

 I feel very confident using my phone to

Receive an SMS text, n(%)

17 (68)

64 (71)

81 (70)

Send an SMS text, n(%)

14 (56)

49 (54)

63 (55)

Make a call, n(%)

22 (88)

86 (95)

108 (94)

Set a reminder, n(%)

14 (56)

38 (43)

52 (46)

Add a contact, n(%)

17 (68)

53 (59)

70 (61)

Send a “Please Call Me”, n(%)

18 (72)

63 (70)

81 (70)

Cell-phone banking (USSD), n(%)

4 (16)

5 (6)

9 (8)

 Perceptions of receiving a reminder to attend next clinic appointment

Helpful, n(%)

29 (97)

88 (91)

117 (92)

 Perceptions of receiving a reminder to collect medications

Helpful, n(%)

30 (100)

90 (93)

120 (94)

 Perceptions of receiving a reminder to take medications

Helpful, n(%)

26 (87)

85 (87)

111 (87)

 Preferred contact type if clinic needs to get in touch

SMS text

14 (47)

75 (74)

89 (70)

Phone call

14 (47)

18 (19)

32 (25)

Other

2 (6)

4 (4)

6 (5)