Table 1 Summary of data collection methods

1. In-depth interviews

29

District health managers (n = 3)

1. Malaria situation in the district

2. Role in policy communication and implementation

3. Uptake of AL in the district

4. Effectiveness of communication strategies

Managers (in-charges) at primary health facilities (n = 6)

1. Role in policy communication and implementation

2. Perceived effectiveness of policy communication strategies

3. Barriers and facilitators to policy changes/implementation at the local level

4. Perceived community response to policy changes, attitudes to recommended drug

Community leaders (n = 17) and mothers who had recently used a health facility (n = 3)

1. Experiences with malaria

2. Types of health provision available

3. Views on malaria drugs

4. Views on recent changes in malaria drug

5. Role in the change of drugs

6. Sources of health information and preferred sources

7. Usefulness of the information received

2. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)

14

Young parents (male and female)

1. Views on recent malaria drug policy changes

2. Communication about recent drug policy changes;

3. What sort of communication, who got the communication, from what sources; usefulness of the communication, and what reactions to the communication.

4. Influences over choice of health care

5. Views over new drugs.

3. Informal conversations

11

Convenience sample from all age groups, both male and female

1. Experiences with various malaria drugs

2. Perceptions about policy changes on 1^st-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria

3. Sources of information on government and facility matters

4. Patient narratives

8

Convenience sample of patients asked to talk about their experiences

Real life experiences when seeking treatment including experience with various drugs, the reactions to policy change and communication received about the new policies

5. Document reviews

6

Selected with the help of the hospital administrator

To enhance familiarity with content of policy documents and discussions, and to feedback on policy implementation process

6. Diary

1

Researchers’ experiences/observations

To enable constant reflection on the researchers’ experiences as well as helping in identifying emerging thoughts about issues and ideas that were followed up in subsequent interviews.