Table 2.

Main themes and sub-themes for impact of HIV-related stigma on quality of life among PLHIV.

Themes	Sub-themes	Codes
1 The health impact of stigma	● Failure to attend clinic as scheduled.	● Cannot re-fill on time. (Missing some of their ART re-fill, Missing their re-fill) ● Failure to go to health facility
	● Poor adherence to medication	● Not comfortable adhering to treatment. ● Afraid of swallowing medication ● Failed to swallow medication. ● Improper uses of medication. ● Cannot take medication properly. ● Skipping doses of their ART medication. ● Discourage proper uses of medication. ● Immune system compromised due to stress. ● Loss of weight ● Failure of treatment (Treatment failure, Immune deficiency). ● Drug abuse ● Causes premature death. ● Death due to not taking medication (AIDS-related deaths). ● Mental health problems
	● Appetite and weight loss	● Severe illness ● Difficulty drinking and/or eating
2 Psychosocial impact of stigma	● Fear, stress, and depression.	● Lack of peace of mind ● Fear of their HIV status becoming known. ● confused ● Easily angered/irritable ● Suicidal ideation (thoughts of ending their life, with a plan) ● Thought of dying soon ● Mental stress ● Fear of death ● Feeling useless to their family ● Deliberate transmission of HIV
	● Family instability	● Family instability and conflict ● Marriage conflict ● Very discouraged due to fear of divorce ● Avoiding sharing bed with their partner or spouse ● Isolated from eating together. ● People feared sharing utensils. ● Discrimination by the family ● Not able to enter the main house. ● Isolated and required to sleep in a room without a door. ● Missing support from other people
	● Limited social interaction	● Isolated from social ceremonies (Society discrimination) ● ARV limits the uses of alcohol (Limited lifestyle)
	● Hiding from the public	● Started to wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers. ● Hiding myself ● Wearing hijab afraid of being identified
	● Difficult learning environment	● Isolated by classmates. ● Teased by my classmates. ● Poor school performance due to long term hospitalization
3 Economic impact of stigma	● Denied employment opportunities	● Hard to get employment after disclosure. ● HIV testing as criteria for employment. ● Difficulty of being employed in a private organization. ● Hard to get employment for PLHIV
	● Loss of job	● Stopped attending the workplace (Absenteeism from work due to fear of mistreatment). ● Quitting job. ● Isolated at work.
	● Denied financial support	● Limited opportunities to join microfinance projects. ● Loss of access to loans ● Lack of access to loan ● People not buying from you
	● Lack of economic support	● Economic opportunities for people with HIV given to those without HIV ● Lack of economic support