Table 2.

Coding framework for analysis (early codes in standard font; later codes in italic)

Main themes	Codes
1. Forms/impacts of challenges and support at INDIVIDUAL level	• Physical health • Individual attitudes & knowledge around HIV/AIDS • Individual risk behaviours
2. Forms/impacts of challenges and support AT HOME	• Economic issues • Family attitudes & relations (inc external stigma, family taking drugs openly together), including guardianship/orphans • Friends/peer group at home/community • Supporting adherence
3. Forms/impacts of challenges & support at CCC/MOH	• Policy level influences • CCC staff attitudes and communication • Accessing CCCs • Perceptions of quality of services • Waiting/timing of clinics • Youth friendly services • Recommendations for clinics • External agencies supporting CCCs • Choosing/changing clinics • Travelling long distances to clinic
4. Forms/impact of challenges & support at school	• Policies impacting ALHIV at school • Choosing types of school • Staff attitudes & actions • Stories of lack of privacy to take drugs, and impact • Fear of unwanted disclosure including boarding schools • Attending CCC/clinics from school • Impact of HIV / challenges and support on schooling
5. Policy level influences (areas)	• Pregnancy support/adherence in pregnancy/other • Disclosure in family/for child • Family counselling/ emotional support/practical support/ mentor mothers • Messaging to ALHIV e.g. contraception/sex • HW training • Friends/peer group/champions support/boot camps Agencies working together
6. Research participation	• Making decisions about participation • Reasons for joining/staying • Understanding/remembering AHOS • Challenges for ALH in attending AHOS clinics • Participating over time • Recommendations for research (pos & neg) • Community perceptions research/KEMRI/AHOS • Teen-parent dynamics • Being accompanied • Ensuring privacy • Supportive staff attitudes • Enjoying research activities • Ethical challenges and strengths around informed consent processes
7. Vulnerability & resilience: Illustrative accounts and ongoing impacts – drawing on findings on ‘support’ and ‘challenges’ across earlier themes	• How and why vulnerability/resilience emerge across the data through cascades/processes • Ways in which agency can be constrained/bounded, relationship to vulnerability cascades • Role of supportive individuals in promoting resilience/countering vulnerability