Table 3 Themes and subthemes

Motivation to participate in the program

•Access to health-related information (HIV, STIs, pregnancy)

•STI testing

•Opening bank accounts

•Matched savings

•Income-generating activities

•Potential for better family relations

Initial concerns

•Putting together the necessary documents (i.e. birth certificate)

•Mistrust in programs

•Time commitment

•Potential inability to save

•Testing (STI and pregnancy)

Facilitators to attendance

•Desire to learn more information

•Reminder calls

•Caregiver commitment

•Incentives

•Transport refund

•Lunch

Challenges

•Other responsibilities and obligations (e.g., family, school work)

•Difficulty raising transport money

•Long distances

•Weather challenges

•Lack of interest

Intervention characteristics

Group format

•Shared experience

•Knowledge sharing and learning

•Gaining confidence in public speaking

•Concern about confidentiality

Session attendance with caregivers

•Co-learning

•Reconnecting with caregivers

•Changing caregiver perceptions

•Separate activities for adolescents and caregivers

Delivery location

•Convenience

•Quietness

•Spaciousness

•Lack of bathroom nearby

Day and time of delivery

•No conflict with other obligations

•Interference with other obligations

•Inconvenient early start time

Facilitators delivering the sessions

•Inclusive

•Knowledgeable and well-trained

•Respectful

•Patient

•Having two facilitators

•Good relationship among facilitators

Content relevance

•Information on income-generating activities

•Information on budgeting and saving

•Information on STIs and HIV

•Information on family relations and communication

•Applying the skills and knowledge learned