Table 3 Codes, categories and themes

A

-We are volunteers

-CHV work conflicts with my informal business

-CHV work conflicts with childcare; I can’t pay for childcare

-I close my business to do CHV work

-I can’t do CHV work with full-time job

-It is difficult to attend social functions;

-CHV work conflicts with household chores

-Lack of incentives

-Conflicting chores

-Lack of adequate time to do CHV work

-Planning and time management

Effectiveness of CHVs’ work hampered by social-economic factors

Context-specific challenges

B

-We have no work plans

-Unplanned meetings

-CHV have no certification

-Poor coordination

-Poor planning

-Lack of training

Lack of training and daily work plans

C

-People don’t understand who we are

-People don’t understand what we do

-We need labelled badges; we need labelled T-shirts

-we have nothing to show that we are CHVs

-Need for identity

-Pride of being a CHV

-Recognition

-A sense of belonging

-Lack of identity and insecurity; identity can lead to trust

Identity/identification and trust

D

-We prefer to buy chairs, tents and cutlery to use during weddings and funerals

-high demand for chairs during weddings

-high demand for chairs during funerals; chairs and tents needed for weddings and funerals

-we have many weddings

-hiring chairs and tents is a sustainable IGA;

-chicken-rearing; kitchen gardens

-Events management; contextually supported activities (hiring of chairs and tents)

-Farming, poultry-keeping

Income generating activities more likely to enhance retention among CHVs in Kaloleni and Rabai sub-counties

-Hiring of tents, chairs and cutlery widely preferred and supported by contextual factors, e.g., high demand during weddings and funerals

• Some places suitable for chicken-rearing