The Delphi panel technique was tested as a component of a health information system in 1991 in rural Kenya. Twenty-six panel members were selected from twelve villages in a sub-district with a population of 160000. Most of the panelists had poor reading and writing skills, so twelve interviewers were trained to assist them in completing questionnaires on issues such as common illnesses in different age-groups and on priority interventions. Except for minor differences in the ranking of common illnesses, the Delphi study provided results consistent with a household interview survey simultaneously undertaken in the area. The usefulness of Delphi panel studies in African health information systems and their costs when conducted by local staff are discussed.
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