Table A2.

Knowledge and attitudes about long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (n = 44)

Themes and categories	Illustrative quotations from respondents
Knowledge of LAIs	Yes, my friends told me that there is an injection which can be taken every 3 months. I have been wishing to have the injection instead of pills. The injections is done only once and you are good.’ (Patient respondent 7)
Prior use of LAIs	‘I was getting the injection once a month and I was taking the pills also. The provider said that they are all my treatments for my illness. The injections have stopped because they realized I was doing well.’ (Patient respondent 2)
Attitudes about LAIs
Reduces stigma	‘The injections would be good because they are long lasting, but with pills everyone would know that you are taking medication.’ (Patient respondent 1)
Convenient	‘I think the injection to be the best option because I can be sure that my patient has got treatment. There is no way he can avoid it and it lasts a month.’ (FCG1 respondent 4)
Improves adherence	‘Most of the patients prefer the injection because it is provided once a month. The relatives also prefer it because it does not need close supervision. The third thing is that it produces good outcomes. The relapse rate is low, such that the patient can stay for some years before experiencing relapse.’ (HCP1 respondent 7)
Questions/concerns about LAIs
Risks and side-effects	‘Is there anyone who got side effects from the injections and was brought back and admitted because he/she didn't recover well?’ (Patient respondent 7) ‘Injections cannot be the first priority if I have other alternatives. There are patients who can get abscesses at the injection site. There are children who have disabilities because of injections.’ (HCP1 respondent 1)
Will it cure patient?	‘Does this injection make one recover from mental illness? I have heard that the pills they take just relieve the symptoms but not the disease. That is why our patients get disappointed.’ (FCG2 respondent 2)
Affordability/availability	‘Another question is shall it be free or will we have to pay for it?’ (Patient respondent 14) ‘Availability of the injections at the hospital is an issue as well.’ (HCP2 respondent 4)
Respondents’ preferences
LAIs	‘I would like the injection because you only get it once a month. The good thing sells itself but the bad thing walks its way to be bought.’ (Swahili proverb). (Patient respondent 15) ‘My patient would wish to be switched to the injections because he feels that the pills do not help him.’ (FCG1 respondent 6)
Pills	‘Most of the patients do not want the injections. It is not a priority to us doctors, also. If the medication has side effects they will manifest easily with injections as it goes directly into the blood stream. We need to provide the pills and if it happens that the patient does not respond, we can provide the injections. We normally aim at avoiding the use of injections if possible. So, it is not our first choice.’ (HCP1 respondent 1)

FCG1/FCG2, caregiver respondent; HCP1/HCP2, healthcare provider respondent.