Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Details for Mechanism ID: 13780
Country/Region: Botswana
Year: 2012
Main Partner: FHI 360
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: NGO
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $200,000

The Botswana HIV/AIDS National Strategic Framework II (NSF II 2010-2016) calls for an increase in HIV prevention services for most at risk and hard to reach populations as a key prevention strategy. However, very little is known about sub-populations in Botswana thought to be at highest risk of HIV infection including sex workers, sexual minorities, prisoners, and people who inject drugs (PWID). In 2010, the Ministry of Health (MOH) requested PEPFAR support to design and conduct an integrated behavioral and biological surveillance survey (BBSS) to generate baseline information on the incidence and prevalence of HIV, the prevalence of other sexually-transmitted infections (STI), and the risk factors for HIV among the most at risk populations of female sex workers (FSW), men having sex with men (MSM), and PWID. The information gathered by this study will help the MOH and its partners to better plan and target programs and interventions to reduce the spread of these infections among these sub-populations. In FY10 and 11, USAID reprogrammed $400,000 to support this effort, but due to the high cost of STI testing, an additional $200,000 is required to fully fund the survey, which is scheduled to begin in June 2012.

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Other Sexual Prevention (HVOP): $200,000

Very few studies have been conducted on most-at-risk populations in Botswana. Given the relatively limited information available about FSW, MSM and PWID sub-populations, there is a need for robust data to determine whether they contribute disproportionately to HIV transmission. As a result, a bio-behavioral survey, which would generate accurate data on the population size of these sub-populations, their risk behaviors, HIV prevalence and HIV incidence was deemed crucial for Botswanas response to the HIV epidemic, particularly as it relates to policy development, the planning and targeting of interventions, and resource allocation decisions.

The specific objectives of this study are to: 1. estimate the incidence and prevalence of HIV infection among FSW, MSM and PWID in Botswana; 2. estimate the size of the FSW and MSM populations in three districts of Botswana; 3. measure the prevalence of syphilis, gonorrhea, and Chlamydia among FSW, MSM and PWID; 4. identify the main risk factors for HIV and other STIs among FSW, MSM and PWID in Botswana; and, 5. strengthen the capacity of local institutions to conduct mapping, size estimation, and integrated biological and behavioral surveillance of HIV and other STIs among these sub-populations in Botswana.

The design and implementation of this study is a collaborative effort led by the MOH Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care and the National Health Laboratory including the Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute for HIV Research and Education, with technical assistance and funding from FHI 360 through the Preventive Technical Assistance (PTA) Project. Local non-governmental and community-based organizations working with the targeted sub-populations are also participating in the design and implementation of the study including the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) and Nkaikela Youth Group.