Table 1 Patient-reported barriers to and facilitators of the use, completion, and models of delivery for 3HP at Mulago AIDS clinic in Kampala, Uganda

Fear of contracting TB - TB is a terrible disease what I know about it is it spoils one of the organs and that is the lungs and once the lungs are spoilt then of course next is death……And I have seen very many people suffering from TB you wouldn’t like the same. So, if there is a chance of prevention, I welcome it. (Middle-aged Male, PLHIV interview)

Inadequate understanding of TPT - My thoughts are why do you give me medicine if I am healthy…. You may find that God did not plan for them to die of the disease-causing organism for TB and yet they are taking medicine… No. I do not support that! (Young Female, PLHIV interview)

Aware of being potentially at risk of TB - Yes, mostly people who have HIV it is so good because our bodies are not strong it gets sick easily but if I prevent it means it is not easy to get. (Young Female, PLHIV interview)

Potential pill burden - The problem is because for me I have been taking 2 tablets (Septrin and ARVs), now what has shocked me is taking 11 tablets. I don’t know the danger with taking because I have never taken such many tablets. (Middle-aged Male, PLHIV interview)

Awareness that TB is easily transmissible - What I know is that when someone is suffering from it, there is a high chance when you are sitting with that one, when you are sharing cups, when she is a wife and you are sleeping together, when you are a parent and your children are there, of course there is a lot of communication. So, it is terrible if you have a home, the whole home may be affected. (Middle-aged Male, PLHIV interview)

Fear of potential side effects - The question I can ask about is whether it can have side effects. Those side effects are the ones we fear the most about medicine because now we see prevention but if I started it what would I look like? What would it make me look like? How would it treat me? All those things have to be known because you can start taking it and you become very strange. The eyes change, and you get to a point where you cannot do your work to earn a living. Yet also if you are taking medicine but are not feeding well you may not stay long. (Young Female, PLHIV interview)

Willingness to take TB preventive therapy - Eeh! My dear, they say prevention is better than cure. That is why I am here. You never know you can get that disease and you get problems treating it. But if you prevent against it and you do not get it, it’s better. (Middle-aged Male, PLHIV interview)

Concerns about the effectiveness of 3HP - My concern might be, leave alone the side effects when you take it aren’t you very vulnerable to contract TB again…. So, I don’t know, will I be vulnerable to such TB or I will be protected? (Middle-aged Female, PLHIV interview)

Trust in health workers - No, I don’t see any problem what I have realized with experience is that the medical people can’t recommend something that can be harmful. (Middle-aged Male, PLHIV interview)

Perceived challenges of DOT - One challenge would be transport costs will be high…. Transport costs, sometimes time, and maybe getting permission from work. (Young Female, PLHIV interview)

Perceived benefits of DOT - Because they take under your observation and you make sure that they have taken it. You know that they have taken it but this person taking from home is on probability. They may take or may not take, and you would not know. But for the person here you would be on sure deal because you have observed them taking it. (Middle-aged Female, PLHIV interview)

Perceived challenges of SAT - Now doctor, some people you can give them medicine and when they come here, and you ask them; did you take your medicine? They will say yes. But truthfully, they got 11 tablets, took three of them and stopped. And yet, you told them, you take all 11 tablets at once. They will take only two tablets and the rest, they fail. If they get time like the following day, then they take again. Doesn’t that spoil it? I think it spoils it! (Middle-aged Female, PLHIV interview)

Perceived benefits of SAT - You are not inconvenienced. You can even take the medicine and finish it without anyone knowing that you are on medication. Even at work you will not be disturbed by having to seek permission. (Middle-aged Female, PLHIV interview)