Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to provide information to fight poverty, diseases and ignorance among rural women in Zambia

Abstract

In today’s information society, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can be potentially used for provision of information to fight poverty, diseases and ignorance among rural women in Zambia. Even though much has been documented about ICTs and development, few researches have been conducted to closely examine the link between ICTs and provision of information to fight poverty, disease and ignorance among women in rural Zambia. This paper aims to ascertain if ICTS can be used to provide information to fight poverty, diseases and ignorance among women in rural Zambia. This was a desk research based on published literature including previous studies on the role of ICTs in combating poverty, disease and ignorance. The findings reveal that the status of rural women in Zambia is low. Although they constitute the majority of the Zambian population, they are the majority of the poor. They remain ignorant about various issues in society and are also more vulnerable to major disease. The findings reveal that information plays a decisive role in alleviating poverty among rural women. It also results in an informed citizenry and a healthy populace. The findings further reveals that rural women’s information needs range from traditional, personal to development oriented information. Therefore, they should be provided with information in all aspects of their social lives. The study has also established that women play a crucial role in the development process. Specifically, the study reveals that women play three significant roles in society: productive, reproductive and socio-political roles. Although women’s economic contribution is vital to future generations and the economy, the findings reveal that women experience greater difficulty than men in securing essential resources and basic resources such as health and nutritional services, education, physical and financial capital and land. Additionally, they lack appropriate information which is critical to enhance their contributions in all aspects of development on a continuous basis. They remain uninformed about many issues that affect them and their development. The study has also established that radio and television can used to provide rural women with information to fight poverty, disease and ignorance due to their ability to transmit information and opinion instantaneously with great apparent authority and direct to the homes. It is clear from the findings that women require information that will allow them to create efficiencies and build an income. Therefore, information providers should consider using ICTs to provide rural women with information to fight poverty, diseases and ignorance.