Table 3.

Key findings from the qualitative research

Drivers of stigma
	Fear of HIV infection HIV associated with moral weakness HIV associated with death	“Even If they were seated close together they would move so as to make sure there is no contact… Contact seems to them as contamination.” (HIV-negative woman)
		“To them (the community), when they see someone has become thin, they don’t even think that maybe they are stressed/depressed, or why the child hasn’t gone to school or the child didn’t pass the exams. They just say they are done, they have ‘ngoma’ (an informal word for HIV).” (Woman living with HIV)
Manifestations of stigma
	Gossip Isolation Change in relationship status	“They arrived home, and the stigma started with the husband. The husband started to stigmatize her. He told her, “I don’t want to see you in my home anymore. Go to your parent’s house. To this day, I haven’t seen that lady return to the clinic…” (Clinic nurse)
Internalized stima
	Feelings of otherness Sense of failure Suicidal ideation	“I had no peace, I was saying to myself I am dying...I don’t know about the baby in my womb, how will it be...I am dying with (the baby).” (Woman living with HIV)
Anticipated stigma
	Fear of social isolation Fear of blame and judgment Leads to non-disclosure	“We don’t advise you to share the information with everybody. Because some of the people cannot keep secrets. You might share the news with that person and then she turns it into an announcement. You just look for someone whom you can trust with your secrets.” (Clinic nurse)
Opportunities to address stigma
	HIV normalization Education Role models	“[The clinic] made me who I am now; they said don’t think that it’s only you...there are beautiful women here when you see them you won’t believe it.” (Woman living with HIV)
		“I will give you an example of the diabetic patients who take pills every day – HIV patients think that they are the only patients who take pills every day, but there are diabetic and hypertensive patients who take their medications every day.” (Healthcare worker)