Table 2

Summary of the realist evaluation cycle

Stage	Data source	Data analysis	Objectives
1.	Qualitative Literature on KP-CBART programme: internal and external documents, guidelines, SOPs, Programme implementation plan	Qualitative Scoping review	To elicit the initial programme theory of the KP-CBART. To identify the mechanisms and contextual factors responsible for programme outcomes
2.	Qualitative Interviews with programme beneficiaries: KP clients, CBO staff and IP staff Quantitative Routine programme data	Qualitative Retroductive, realist analysis Quantitative Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis	To evaluate the application of the initial programme theory in multiple case studies
3.	Data from stages 1, 2 and 3	Mixed methods: triangulation	To develop generalisable theories of KP-CBART in LMIC/resource-constrained settings)

CBART, community-based antiretroviral therapy; CBO, context, mechanisms and outcomes; KP, key populations; LMIC, low middle income country; SOPs, standard operating procedures.