Table 1 Impact, process and economic evaluation research questions

Process evaluation

Which attributes, mechanisms, effects (intended and unintended) and contextual factors enable or prevent gender-sensitive group-based problem-solving interventions at community and community-facility levels to improve protection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of childhood pneumonia and infectious diseases in Kiyawa LGA?

How do various stakeholders understand their role in the process of childhood pneumonia prevention in Jigawa, and how does this perception shift through participation in community-level interventions?

How do social norms around gender, participation and decision-making in the home shape participation and engagement in community-level interventions to tackle childhood pneumonia?

How do power and social dynamics and relationships in the wider community shape channels of communication between families and practitioners, and how does this impact on the ability to implement and efficacy of community-facility referral pathways?

Was the intervention delivered (including fidelity, dose, reach, intensity, adaptation and duration) as intended?

Economic evaluation

What is the cost per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted of a package of group-based problem-solving interventions at community and community-facility levels to improve protection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of childhood pneumonia and infectious diseases in Jigawa State, Nigeria?

Is it cost-effective considering opportunity costs of current and projected health spending (i.e. what is the estimated net benefit of the intervention package)?

If the intervention package is cost-effective, is it affordable given the budget required for scale-up in Jigawa State, Nigeria?