Table 3.

Themes and subthemes on linkage to HIV care by levels - individual, family/work/community, as well as health systems levels

Individual factors	Family/work/community factors	Health system factors
1. Reasons for seeking HIV testing
• Routine check-up     • HIV related symptoms     • Feeling sick     • Prenatal care	• Spouse-related elements
2. Barriers to linkage to HIV care
• Denialism and lack of emotional readiness     • Preference for alternative medication     • Dislike for pills     • Progression of HIV     • Experience of side effects from ARVs     • Fear of non-adherence     • Perceived stigma	• Socio-economic factors (lack of income, distance to clinic, lack of transport/food, inability to get time off from work) • Lack of disclosure to partner or family members	• Poor counselling and clinical procedures • Health systems inefficiency
3. Enablers to linkage to HIV care
• Fear of HIV progressing     • Acceptability of status     • Disclosure     • Previous exposure to PLHIV	• Support from family and friends • Support from work/peers • Prior education on ART	• Positive testing experience • Accessibility to ARVs • Change in the treatment guidelines. • Linkage to care study impact
4. Perceptions on the implementation of UTT
• Happy with the implementation of UTT     • Opportunity to continue with life     • Non-acceptance of the implementation of UTT	• Family/friend bad experiences with old HIV treatment guidelines