Table 8 Appendix 1a.

Introduction to vignette 'I appreciate your agreeing to talk to me about a problem that affects many children in this district. I want to understand how you think about it. Keep in mind that it is your ideas that I am interested in, so please do not feel there is a right or wrong answer to the questions I will ask you. Do not be shy to tell me what you think. So then, let me tell you a story about a child called Kofi/Ama who has this problem.'

MALE 'Kofi is a 2/12 year-old boy who had been feeling fine and playing happily. One day last week, Kofi woke up crying, and his mother found that his body felt very hot. Kofi seemed to be feeling cold and he was shivering. This was on and off for some time and he refused to eat anything. His urine was yellow in colour. He has vomited too. A few hours later, he started rolling his eyes. With his eyes opened wide, he was shaking and became stiff'

FEMALE 'Ama is a 2/12 year-old girl who had been feeling fine and playing happily. One day last week, Ama woke up crying, and her mother found that her body felt very hot. Ama seemed to be feeling cold and she was shivering. This was on and off for sometime and she refused to eat anything. Her urine was yellow in colour. She vomited too. A few hours later, she started rolling her eyes. With her eyes opened wide, she was shaking and became stiff'

Appendix 1b. Vignette depicting MRI with convulsion negative (MRI-CN)

Introduction to vignette 'I appreciate your agreeing to talk to me about a problem that affects many people in this district. I want to understand how you think about it. Keep in mind that it is your ideas that I am interested in, so please do not feel there is a right or wrong answer to the questions I will ask you. Do not be shy to tell me what you think. So then, let me tell you a story about a child called Kofi/Ama who has this problem.'

'Kofi is a 2/12 year-old boy who had been feeling fine and playing happily. One day last week, Kofi woke up crying, and his mother found that his body felt very hot. Kofi seemed to be feeling cold and he was shivering. This was on and off for sometime. He refused to eat anything. His urine was a yellow colour, and after a few hours, he vomited.'

'Ama is a 2/12 year-old girl who had been feeling fine and playing happily. One day last week, Ama woke up crying, and her mother found that her body felt very hot. Ama seemed to be feeling cold and she was shivering. This was on and off for sometime. She refused to eat anything. Her urine was a yellow colour, and after a few hours, she vomited.'