Table 3.

Patients' Perceptions of Use of Mobile Phone for Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) Adherence and Health Promotion

Theme	Representative quote
Willingness to receive calls from HCP	“Will you give us a phone? I don't know to use it. If you call I can talk. But my husband has one and you can call me anytime and any day in a week. If you call, I can tell my husband that it is my doctor and talk to you. If he is at home he will give me the phone.” IDI_21
	“If any staff nurse calls me, I can talk. If you call me in the night that will be better because mobile is with my sister and she will be at home during night time. You can call me twice a week, I can speak. I don't have mobile and my sister has one. If you call when she is out she will tell once she is back and I can make calls then.” IDI_24
Preference regarding when to call and frequency of calls	“After 6pm twice a week you can talk to me. It would be nice.” IDI_18
	“You call me twice or once in a week I would love to talk to you and share my feelings, I don't mind to talk to you over the phone. I know to give missed call and SMS also, after 4pm I'm free if you give me a missed call I will call you back.” IDI_1
	“You can call me anytime. I don't have any restrictions from my family. I feel good and happy when you call me and speak to me I feel that there is someone who can share my feelings. Give your number and I also will call you.” IDI_13
Discussion of mental health issues	“But if I feel sad, then I can call you and talk to you.” IDI_2
	“If you talk to people like me over phone, we will feel very happy. We will get peace. We will feel happy that we got a friend. And also if we feel sad, we can talk to you and we may get peace. And we also feel there is someone to listen to our pains and to support us. You are like God to us. There is no one to ask us anything. At least you are there. If I have any problem I will call you.” IDI_1
Phone counseling was not a priority, but wanted financial assistance	“If you can support my children it will be good or else it will be difficult for us to survive. We don't have any assets and there is no one to look after my children.” IDI_21
	“In my opinion instead of talking over the mobile why don't you help our children. It would have been more helpful.” IDI_27
Confidentiality	“I don't have mobile, my husband has one. But if I start discussing this over the phone with someone, people at home might hear you and I don't want that to happen and it might create problems. Here at the hospital, they have taken our number. We fear they might call and create problem so we come on exact date and collect tablets and go. We don't want anyone to call and it might create problem so we have not shared our number. Please don't mind me, I'm not interested to know more information in this regard so please don't call me.” IDI_17
	“I have a phone with me. If anyone calls me I can receive a call. If you call I can talk but if there will be someone around me it would create problem to me. Because of these reasons I don't give my number to anybody. If required, I will call you. You give your number and need not to call.” IDI_7

HCP, healthcare provider; IDI, in-depth interview with HIV-positive woman.