Table 2 Interview guide for key informant interviews

Understanding of evidence and its purpose

 1. From your perspective, what do you understand by evidence?

 2. What benefits would you hope to receive by using evidence?

 3. In what ways has the use of evidence met your expectations?

 4. In what ways has using evidence failed to meet your expectations?

Perceived outcomes of using local evidence in the planning process

 1. Have you been using local evidence to meet your specific needs?

 2. Have you been using local evidence to meet your specific needs in the planning process?

 3. Do you think that the use of local evidence has benefited you and the district? If yes:

 4. In what way has the use of local evidence benefited you, the planning process and the district?

 5. Do you think that the use of local evidence will (or has already) had an impact on the district health system and the planning process?

 6. In your opinion, what has been the most important outcome of using local evidence in the planning process?

How the use of locally generated data has affected the planning process and resource allocation for child survival activities

 1. To what extent has the use of local evidence affected your role in the planning process?

 2. Were any activities that were not previously identified as priorities included in the annual work plan?

 3. Has the use of local evidence affected your authority in the planning process?

 4. Have you had any professional or political concerns regarding the use of local evidence OR have there been? If yes, elaborate.

 5. Has the use of evidence affected the nature and range of resources allocation decisions made in the district?

 6. How much freedom do you or other local managers have to reallocate funds between line items and programmes?