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1.10.1 Conceptual scope
Most of this study is descriptive and therefore quantitative in its approach.
However, the study also adopted/incorporated a qualitative approach.
1.10.2 Focus
The study focused on rural women and ICTs, and was interested in
understanding the infrastructure and resource base of the environments in
which the rural women of South Africa and Kenya live, and how this has
affected their use of ICTs.
1.10.3 Research environment
In South Africa, the study primarily focused on rural women in the uMlalazi
municipality, which is situated in Uthungulu District in the Kwazulu Natal
province, and is mostly rural in nature (Le. has only a few urban
settlements). The region possesses more female inhabitants than male
(Uthungulu Distict Municipality report, 2003). Umlalazi is located on the
North Eastern coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The area is underdeveloped, although
adjacent to the highly developed coastal corridor of the KwaZulu-Natal
[KZN] province. The study purposefully selected uMlalazi municipality for
analysis because of its rural nature, population density, and racial mix.
Uthungulu Distict has six local municipalities, namely: Mbonambi;
uMlathuze; Ntambanana; uMlalazi; Mthonjaneni and Nkandla (Uthungulu
Distict Municipality report, 2004). According to the report, Uthungulu
District has the third highest population in the proVince, after the Durban
Metropolitan Council and the uMgungundlovu District. UMlalazi municipality
has 26 wards [electoral areas represented by Councilors] (UIDP: 2002:4). Of
these wards, seven were selected according to their individual population
densities and racial mix. These included wards 11, 12, 13,15,16,18 and 25
of the Umlalazi Municipality. Accordingly, in order to avoid bias during
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