Prevalence and determinants of Internet use among reproductive aged women in Ghana: Analysis of the 2021 Ghana Population and Housing Census

Abstract

This study analyzed the prevalence and determinants of Internet use among reproductive-aged women in Ghana using data from the 2021 Ghana Population and Housing Census, involving 811,022 women. It found that 75% of these women used the Internet within three months before the census, with mobile phones being the primary access device (74.6%). Significant determinants of Internet use included age, education, religious affiliation, marital status, residence, ecological zone, wealth, and employment status. Specifically, religiously affiliated women, those living in the Middle belt, and those employed were more likely to use the Internet, while women in rural areas and the Coastal belt were less likely. These findings highlight the need for targeted policies to promote Internet use among Ghanaian women of reproductive age.