Table 1 Summary of pre-defined themes and codes from IDIs and FGDs

 Experiential attitude

Emotional response related to the uptake of HIVST including enjoying the freedom to test oneself, relief to avoid needle pricks, and fear of seeing blood.

 Instrumental attitude

Attitude towards HIVST, with anticipated positive consequences, including self-testing at a place of one’s choice, privacy, and convenience, avoiding long queues; reducing time visiting health facilities; less testing and waiting time for test results; reducing counselor’s workload; reducing indirect costs.

 Injunctive norms

A belief that significant people in their social environment, such as parents and peers, would approve (or disapprove) the use of HIVST.

 Descriptive norms

An individual’s belief about whether significant people in their social environment, such as parents and peers would use (or not use) HIVST.

 Perceived control

Control belief:

A perceived likelihood that HIVST will empower people to self-test for HIV. HIVST is likely to minimize stigma; lack of counseling is likely to motivate people to use HIVST

Beliefs about the facilitators for performance:

Easy access of kits; availability of self-test kits; disclosure of negative results; positive results triggers action; appropriate locations for delivery of HIVST; strategies for advocacy HIVST; strategies for linkage to HIV care.

Beliefs about barriers to performance:

Unaffordable kit price; poverty; illiteracy; poor eye-sight; cost-benefit of HIVST; lack of HIVST policy; lack of counseling & linkage to HIV care; limitations of rapid HIV tests.

 Self-efficacy

The availability of face-to-face counseling will clear doubts about an individual’s capacity to perform HIVST; correct information would increase HIVST knowledge and the capacity to perform HIVST; less confidence to use HIVST correctly when alone.