BSRHI, Botswana Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative
A BSRHI researcher presenting a research poster at a conference

Our research

Studies that answer the questions that matter for women's and girls' health in Botswana.

Research areas

  • A BSRHI researcher in a lab coat and gloves working at a computer beside testing equipment

    STI diagnosis and treatment

    Testing and treating sexually transmitted infections.

  • Family planning methods, including contraceptive pills and implants, on an information table

    Pregnancy planning and prevention

    Helping women and girls plan, space and prevent pregnancies, including contraception after birth.

  • Baby booties, a stethoscope and an ultrasound scan on a clinic bed

    Maternal and reproductive health

    Research on antenatal and postnatal care, preventing and managing pregnancy complications, and preventing maternal deaths.

  • HIV prevention options: oral PrEP tablets, an injectable and condoms

    HIV prevention

    Prevention options for women and girls, including the dapivirine vaginal ring, oral PrEP and long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA).

  • A clean, prepared clinic examination room

    Safe abortion care

    Research to inform policies, reduce unsafe abortion, and improve women's health outcomes.

  • A model of the uterus and cervix with vaccine vials, a speculum and screening swab

    Cervical cancer prevention

    Screening approaches that find and treat cervical disease early, including for women living with HIV.

Research studies

Current studies

  • National Institutes of Health

    HERA Trial

    The Healthy Expectancy through Routine Antenatal STI Screening Trial

    A randomised trial testing whether screening and treating pregnant women for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, instead of relying on symptoms alone, reduces preterm birth. It will enrol 2,000 pregnant women in Gaborone, Molepolole and Ramotswa.

  • National Institutes of Health

    STEP-UP

    STI Testing to Enhance PrEP Use in Pregnancy

    A randomised trial testing whether routine STI testing, alongside more HIV prevention (PrEP) options such as the dapivirine vaginal ring, helps pregnant and postpartum women start and keep using PrEP. It is enrolling 600 women in Gaborone and Molepolole.

  • Coefficient Giving

    Triple A Study

    Antenatal micronutrients, Aspirin and Azithromycin for maximal reduction of preterm birth and related poor outcomes

    A large randomised trial comparing combinations of low-dose aspirin, multiple micronutrients and azithromycin in routine antenatal care to prevent preterm birth and other poor pregnancy outcomes. It will enrol 4,000 women in Botswana and South Africa.

  • Coefficient Giving

    GETSA Study

    The Genomic Epidemiology of Treponema pallidum in Southern Africa

    Investigates the causes of genital ulcer disease and the genomics of syphilis in Botswana and South Africa, building one of the largest collections of syphilis genomes from the region and growing local expertise in pathogen genomics.

  • National Institutes of Health

    PHARAOH

    Pharmacokinetic Study of Long-acting Antiretrovirals and Contraceptive Options in HIV Prevention

    Looks at whether long-acting injectable cabotegravir for HIV prevention interacts with hormonal contraceptives such as the DMPA injection and the etonogestrel implant, so women can use both with confidence.

  • Wellcome Trust

    ADAPI Study

    Assessing the DAP as a prospective pregnancy indicator among women living with HIV in Botswana

    Validates the Desire to Avoid Pregnancy (DAP) scale as a way to understand the pregnancy intentions of women living with HIV, and tests how it can support person-centred reproductive health care in clinics.

  • Gates Foundation

    VMB Study

    The vaginal microbiome, bacterial vaginosis and response to treatment among women in Gaborone, Botswana

    The first study of the vaginal microbiome among women in Botswana. It will measure how common bacterial vaginosis (BV) is among women aged 18 to 45 in Gaborone, follow women with BV through standard treatment to see how their vaginal microbiome responds, and ask women and health workers about vaginal products and sample collection. The findings will help prepare Botswana to take part in future trials of products that restore a healthy vaginal microbiome.

  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

    HPTN 119

    Weekly Doxycycline Prophylaxis for Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Young African Women

    A phase 3 randomised trial run by the HIV Prevention Trials Network, testing whether taking the antibiotic doxycycline once a week prevents chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis among adolescent and young women in Africa. Current guidelines do not recommend doxycycline prevention for women, so the trial will provide the evidence needed to include them.

Completed studies

  • Gates Foundation

    BASE Study

    The Botswana Adolescent Girls & Young Women STI Testing and Treatment Study

    Measured how common chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis are among adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 in Gaborone, and whether routine STI screening is cost-effective compared with current care.

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse

    RETI Study

    Exploring bystander risks and benefits in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis trials and opportunities for engagement

    Explored how male partners can be involved in HIV prevention research and services for pregnant and breastfeeding women, to inform ethical guidance for future PrEP trials.

  • Gates Foundation

    MAGUS Study

    Multi-Country Aetiology of Genital Ulcer Study

    Described the causes of genital ulcer disease in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Uganda and contributed to global syphilis sequencing efforts.

  • ViiV Healthcare

    CODA Study

    Contraceptives and Dolutegravir-based ART

    Studied whether dolutegravir-based HIV treatment interacts with the levonorgestrel implant or the DMPA injectable. It found no clinically significant interactions with either method.

  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

    PREPARE Study

    Promoting Equity for Pregnant Adolescents in Research

    A study in Botswana, Malawi and the US on the ethics of including pregnant adolescents in HIV and co-infections research. It heard from 120 adolescents and 17 researchers and stakeholders, and is informing ethical guidance for safely including pregnant adolescents in clinical HIV research.

  • Merck

    PrEP Choice Study

    Evaluation of pregnant and breastfeeding women's preferences and attitudes towards long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis: a discrete choice experiment

    Asked pregnant and breastfeeding women in Botswana and South Africa what they want from long-acting HIV prevention. Women strongly preferred PrEP that is not inserted vaginally or implanted over oral PrEP, and favoured options that also prevent STIs and pregnancy.

  • National Institutes of Health

    Maduo Study

    The diagnosis and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in pregnant women to prevent adverse neonatal consequences

    Maduo means “results” in Setswana. The study tested 500 pregnant women in Gaborone for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, looked at whether testing and treatment in pregnancy reduces infection after birth and transmission to babies, and assessed its acceptability and cost-effectiveness.

  • Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR)

    Maduo Syphilis Study

    Dual HIV/syphilis point-of-care testing to improve identification and treatment of syphilis among pregnant women in Gaborone, Botswana

    Tested whether rapid, same-day HIV and syphilis testing and treatment at antenatal clinics is acceptable and workable in Gaborone, building on the success of Botswana's HIV testing programme.

  • Government of Canada

    BACkUP Study

    Botswana Assistance to Curb Unintended Pregnancies

    A quality improvement study evaluating contraceptive use after pregnancy in Botswana and training health professionals to provide long-acting reversible contraception after pregnancy.

Publications

Reports and news articles