Table 1.

Summary of questions asked to different categories of study participants

Theme	Never screened	Screened once	Screened on schedule
Knowledge about cervical cancer and risk perception	According to what you know, which kinds of people are likely to get the disease? Why do you think that such people are likely to get cervical cancer?	Identical questions	Identical questions
	What are the chances that you can get cervical cancer? Why?
	How would you grade your chances of getting the disease relative to that of women who are HIV negative and why?
Disease management	How is cervical cancer treated?	Identical questions	Identical questions
	According to what you know, how can cervical cancer be prevented?
	How often should women check for cervical cancer?
Screening uptake	Have you ever been screened for cervical cancer? If no why haven’t you been screened?	I understand that you have ever checked for this cancer at least once, what prompted you to go for the check -up then?	I understand you have been coming for cervical cancer checkup every year, what motivates you to continue coming for the screening?
		Probe: was it after referral How come you checked once and have never done it again?	Are there times or factors that sometimes make you feel like you should not go for screening again? If yes mention them. How do you overcome these barriers?
		Probe: was it the experience, the time etc.? Do you think it is possible to overcome these barriers? If yes how? If no, why?
		Do you still desire to have another checkup? Why do you think women should have repeat screening?
Experiences with screening	n/a	During the time you went for the check at Mildmay, what was the experience like?	How is the check-up /screening experience in terms of the procedure/what is done during the check-up?
		Probe: How was your experience in terms of the procedure/what was done to you during the check?	Probe: what did you not like about the procedure?
		Probe: what did you not like about the procedure?	Would you consider the check-up/screening beneficial? Explain
		Would you consider the check/screening beneficial? If yes, in what way?
Assessing Unmet need and how it can be addressed	Have you ever desired to go for the check-up/screening but failed to access it? What was the hindrance?	What needs to be done or improved to serve you better in the prevention of cervical cancer?	What needs to be done or improved to serve you better in the prevention of cervical cancer?
	Has anyone ever shared with you about this service? Who was this person/s? What did this person/s tell you about the service? Did they refer you for the service?
	Probe: Did you actually go for the service after referral? If not, why? If yes, did you get the service? If you did not get the service, what made you fail to get the service?
	What should be done to facilitate or motivate you to go for screening/check-up?