Table 2.

Example quotes related to FI mechanism and considerations about the use of FI in programmatic settings

Domain	Construct	Quotes
Challenges to pediatric HIV testing	Financial constraints	… when I came here I was helpless, … I had left one of my children in [village name] then I had another son in [high school] that in fact I could not raise fees …. I found it was going to be a challenge going to get that child all the way here because I didn’t have that fare (FIT non-tester, 37-year-old mother, $0 control arm)
	Time constraints	I always got so busy and I am also the one who had to take care of her, so this made her fall sick often… so when I was asked to bring her for testing, I went and talked to her and she agreed and said ‘it is okay, I will just go and ask for permission from school that you are taking me to the hospital’ so the teacher also agreed and we went (FIT tester, 30-year-old father, $2.50 arm)
	Lack of support from family members	The challenges because this girl has her father, I went to the father and spoke to the father but the father did not agree. he said ‘no, not on my child’ (FIT tester, 36-year-old-mother, $5 arm)
	Fear of having infected the child	I didn’t test her when she was younger, you see when I conceived her that is when I discovered that I had HIV and that time when I was diagnosed with HIV, I was still afraid … Because I didn’t give her that care that is given to children, I breast fed her at the same time gave her solid foods. So that is why I was afraid, I just knew that I already infected my child (FIT tester, 45-year-old mother, $10 arm)
FI mechanism	Direct offset: direct cost	I didn’t have transport money but it forced me to borrow transport because when I heard that I was coming to test and I already developed courage because of that push, I was courageous that even [if] he is sick, I will just start him on medications early because I am also on medication (FIT tester, 45-year-old mother, $10 arm)
	Direct offset: indirect cost	I felt good and I learnt that there is benefit if you bring your child, there is a benefit you get at least after that you will go and buy the child something. (FIT tester, 43-year-old mother, $2.50 arm)
	Money as a nudge	Coming here messed my work schedule however they had told me that they were going to give me transport reimbursement following the card that I scratched yes that is why I stopped going to work and decided to just bring her. The money encouraged me a bit (FIT tester, 39-year-old uncle, $5 arm)
	No incentives needed	You know the child is yours the child is yours. The doctor knows his children’s status now it is your responsibility, you can bring the child even without being given money, so that you can know their status because that child is yours. Therefore there is no need of being given money because the child is yours not his, you are the one who is supposed to look at the welfare of your child (FIT naïve, 22-year-old female caregiver, no FI)
Proposed focus population for FI	Primary caregivers	I think it should enroll more women than men because women are a little bit reliable and even in terms of responsibilities very few men are responsible (FIT tester, 39-year-old father, $10 arm)
	Enrollment on care	Those who have just been enrolled, they are still weak in treatment… they might be discouraged and stop treatment. But those who are ongoing know what they have been through and the steps that they had to take, so they are okay, they can be explained to slowly and they understand (FIT tester, 27-year-old mother, $10 arm)
	Financial challenges	…those who have been on care for a long time and they are following the rules of treatment well but they are not financially okay for sure even if you go to their home you will find that they are really [impoverished] and maybe even the government knows and have taken responsibility of paying fees for his children (FIT non-tester, 58-year-old male caregiver, $2.50 arm)
Potential negatives	Program manipulations	The negative thing that can happen is that he may start spreading to people that we only come here for money and not because we are sick and you know he might discourage even those who wanted to come when he says that we only come because of money and not because one is sick (FIT non-tester, 35-year-old female caregiver, $2.50 arm)
	Dependency on money	I’m already used to it because that money ended and it was renewed, I scratched and found out that I was continuing, don’t you see that is an addiction, like I know that if I go to [hospital’ s name] then I will get money, so when I don’t get that addiction it discourages me (FIT tester, 43-year-old mother, $2.50 arm)