title: Mobile phones and social structures: an exploration of a closed user group in rural Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the Millennium Villages Project site of Bonsaaso, Ghana, the Health Team is using a mobile phone closed user group to place calls amongst one another at no cost.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to determine the utilization and acceptability of the closed user group amongst users, social network analysis and qualitative methods were used. Key informants were identified and interviewed. The key informants also kept prospective call journals. Billing statements and de-identified call data from the closed user group were used to generate data for analyzing the social structure revealed by the network traffic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of communication within the closed user group was personal and not for professional purposes. The members of the CUG felt that the group improved their efficiency at work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methods used present an interesting way to investigate the social structure surrounding communication via mobile phones. In addition, the benefits identified from the exploration of this closed user group make a case for supporting mobile phone closed user groups amongst professional groups.
authors.affiliation: The International Health Department, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. nkaonga@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nadi Nina
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Kaonga
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Labrique
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mechael
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akosah
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohemeng-Dapaah
authors.forename: Joseph Sakyi
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Baah
authors.forename: Richmond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kodie
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kanter
authors.forename: Orin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003142:Communication; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000592:standards*; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population; D060756:Social Networking; D012944:Social Support