Youth focus group discussions

Between 8^th and 31^st March 2022, we conducted five focus group discussions (FGD) with 25 youth to explore their perceptions on the acceptability of the screening and brief intervention program. The youth were purposively identified, and FGDs were conducted, based on age, gender, and substance use risk, to ensure that the youth were comfortable enough to express their opinions. Supplementary file 2 provides details on the composition of the FGDs. The FGDs were conducted in a meeting room at a tertiary-level health facility in Eldoret. The FGD guides explored areas such as youths' perceptions of the session content, perceptions about their interaction with the peer providers, and recommendations for improvement. The FGD sessions were led by experienced moderators M.K., W.R., and J.B. and were conducted in English. The FGDs started with the consenting process followed by an introductory session to ensure a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. The discussions lasted an average of one hour and twenty-two minutes and were audio-recorded. Participants were reimbursed USD 5.00 for their time.