WHAT WE DO
The Botswana Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative (BSRHI) was established in 2014. Our aim is to address important research questions to improve sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes among women and adolescent girls. We conduct research, provide clinical SRH and HIV services, and undertake teaching and training. We also provide technical assistance and advisory support to the Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and other regional and international organisations.
Our research focuses on pregnancy planning and prevention, HIV and contraception, STI diagnosis and treatment, safe abortion care and cervical cancer prevention.
MEET THE TEAM
CHELSEA MORRONI
Founder and Director
Chelsea is a women’s health epidemiologist and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) physician. Chelsea has worked in SRH in Africa for almost 20 years. In 2014, she founded BSRHI, a regional programme of research, training and clinical service provision in women’s healthcare.
AAMIRAH MUSSA
Deputy Director & Research Fellow
Aamirah has a Master of Public Health from Imperial College London and is currently pursuing her PhD in Global Health at the University of Edinburgh. She has experience working in research in the UK and Botswana.
SELEBALENG SIMON
Nurse Coordinator
Bame is a dedicated nurse coordinator with two years’ experience in clinical research and five years’ experience in provision of emergency care. Bame is currently coordinating the CODA study, investigating drug interactions between antiretrovirals and hormonal contraceptives.
KEHUMILE RAMONTSHONYANA
Research Assistant
Kehumile is a research assistant with over five years’ experience conducting research related to SRH. She has also worked in the Department of Public Health at the Ministry of Health and Wellness under the Disease Surveillance and Response Unit.
REFILWE MMIPI
Admin Assistant
Refilwe is an administration assistant by profession. She has been with the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute for eight years, supporting several studies with general administration and study logistics.
SHELBY CHAKONA
Research Nurse
Bame is a dedicated nurse coordinator with two years’ experience in clinical research and five years’ experience in provision of emergency care. Bame is currently coordinating the CODA study, investigating drug interactions between antiretrovirals and hormonal contraceptives.
NEO NDLOVU
Research Assistant
Neo is a hands-on research assistant who is trained in HIV testing, counselling and phlebotomy. She has 13 years’ experience in clinical set up and research. Neo is currently working on the Maduo study, investigating the prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhoea among pregnant women in Gaborone.
SAMSON CHAKA
Study Driver
Samson is the study team driver. He has been a driver in Gaborone for 13 years, and has worked as a study driver for the Botswana-UPenn Partnership and the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership.
REBECCA RYAN
Clinical Lead
Becky is our lead study clinician, overseeing all clinical aspects of BSRHI's research. She is passionate about global and sexual and reproductive health and has worked in Zambia, Australia and the UK before moving to Botswana.
NEO MOSHASHANE
Research Assistant
Neo is a research assistant with eight years’ experience in both qualitative and quantitative research related to SRH, adolescent substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and oral cancer. She has worked with various research institutions including Botswana-Baylor, Botswana-UPenn Partnership and Botswana Harvard.
LEFHELA TAMUTHIBA
Research Assistant
Lefhela has worked as an HIV counsellor for 13 years and has experience working in government and with organisations such as ACHAP and NACA. She is excited to be working in a new field of sexual and reproductive health research.
CHELSEA MORRONI
Founder and Director
Chelsea is a women’s health epidemiologist and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) physician. Chelsea has worked in SRH in Africa for almost 20 years. In 2014, she founded BSRHI, a regional programme of research, training and clinical service provision in women’s healthcare.
AAMIRAH MUSSA
Research Fellow
Aamirah has a Master of Public Health from Imperial College London and is currently pursuing her PhD in Global Health at the University of Edinburgh. She has experience working in research in the UK and Botswana.
KAREN SHAMBIRA
Physician Study Coordinator
Karen is a medical doctor with experience in implementation and coordination of COVID-19 vaccine and Injectable PrEP randomized controlled trials. She is passionate in pursuing a career in public health and contributing to breakthroughs in areas of unmet medical needs.
BAME BAME
Nurse Coordinator
Bame is a dedicated nurse coordinator with experience in clinical research and provision of emergency care. Bame has coordinated several studies focused on STIs and contraception and is currently leading the GETSA study which is focused at looking at the causes of genital ulcer disease in Southern Africa.
SHELBY CHAKONA
Research Nurse
Shelby is an enthusiastic and strongly-motivated nurse graduate with experience in providing quality care to a wide variety of patients. She worked at a private clinic and was attached to different hospitals before joining BSRHI as a research nurse.
NEO MOSHASHANE
Senior Research Assistant
Neo is a research assistant with eight years’ experience in both qualitative and quantitative research related to SRH, adolescent substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and oral cancer. She has worked with various research institutions including Botswana-Baylor, Botswana-UPenn Partnership and Botswana Harvard.
KEHUMILE RAMONTSHONYANA
Senior Research Assistant
Kehumile is a research assistant with over five years’ experience conducting research related to SRH. She has also worked in the Department of Public Health at the Ministry of Health and Wellness under the Disease Surveillance and Response Unit.
NEO NDLOVU
Senior Research Assistant
Neo is a hands-on research assistant who is trained in HIV testing, counselling and phlebotomy. She has 13 years’ experience in clinical set up and research. Neo is currently working on several studies related to women's sexual and reproductive health.
LEFHELA TAMUTHIBA
Senior Research Assistant
Lefhela has worked as an HIV counsellor for 13 years and has experience working in government and with organisations such as ACHAP and NACA. She is excited to be working in a new field of sexual and reproductive health research.
MBABI BAPABI
Senior Research Assistant
Mbabi has a Bachelor's degree in Computing Science. As a research assistant on the BSRHI team, she is responsible for participant enrolment and follow-up. She is also an experienced phlebotomist.
ARATWA TUMAGOLE Research Assistant
Aratwa has a Bachelor's Degree in Social work. She has worked in different youth projects in both the government and non-governmental organisations.
MAIPELO TSUANENG
Research Assistant
Maipelo Tsuaneng is a Bachelor of Public Health graduate. She is currently involved in several BSRHI studies and has experience in conducting patient interviews and phlebotomy.
NEO ZAMBE
Admin Assistant
Neo is a highly-motivated and organized administration assistant on the BSRHI team. She is responsible for supporting several studies with general administration and logistics.
SAMSON CHAKA
Study Driver
Samson is the study team driver. He has been a driver in Gaborone for 13 years, and has worked as a study driver for the Botswana-UPenn Partnership and the Botswana Harvard Health Partnership.
LINDIWE NDLOVU
Cleaning Lead
Lindiwe is a key member of the BSRHI team and is responsible for coordinating and maintaining upkeep of BSRHI offices. She has been with the BSRHI team for the last two years.
ONGOING STUDIES
MADUO STUDY
The Maduo Study is an NIH-funded study aiming to evaluate the prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhoea infection among pregnant women in Botswana and to investigate the effects of testing and treating asymptomatic pregnant women to prevent adverse neonatal consequences.
CODA STUDY
The Contraceptives and Dolutegravir-based ART (CODA) Study aims to investigate whether drug-drug interactions occur when the levonorgestrel sub-dermal contraceptive implant or the DMPA injectable are concurrently used with dolutegravir-based ART therapy. The CODA Study is funded by ViiV Healthcare.
MAGUS STUDY
The Multi-Country Aetiology of Genital Ulcer Study (MAGUS) is a multi-country study funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aiming to understand the causes of genital ulcer disease.
MADUO SYPHILIS STUDY
The Maduo Syphilis Study aims to determine the acceptability and feasibility of implementing point-of-care syphilis testing and treatment among pregnant women in Botswana by providing dual HIV and syphilis point-of-care testing for pregnant women.
BACkUP STUDY
The Botswana Assistance to Curb Unintended Pregnancies (BACkUP) Study is a quality improvement intervention study aiming to evaluate post-pregnancy contraceptive use in Botswana and to train health professionals in the provision of post-pregnancy long-acting reversible contraception. The BACkUP study is supported by the Government of Canada.
WHO COTSIS STUDY
The WHO COTSIS Study will use cognitive interviewing to refine a standard sexual and reproductive health instrument by testing it in a variety of demographic cross-sections of the general population (e.g. older persons, persons in rural areas), worldwide. The ‘global applicability’ of this instrument will be determined by this research. BSRHI will be leading implementation of the project in Botswana.
ISHARE STUDY
The International Sexual Health And REproductive Health (ISHARE) Study is a multi-country, behavioural cross-sectional study aiming to better understand sexual and reproductive health in times of the COVID-19 crisis. The ISHARE study is supported by the Government of Canada.
COVID-19 RESPONSE PROJECT
Funded by the Government of Canada, the COVID-19 response project aims to empower frontline sexual and reproductive healthcare workers through training, support and service adaptations during COVID-19 in Botswana
PUBLICATIONS
Unintended Pregnancy in Gaborone, Botswana: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Doherty K, Arean K, Wynn A, Offorjebe OA, Moshashane N, Sickboy O, Ramogola-Masire D, Klausner JD, Morroni C. Afr J Reprod Health. 2018.
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajrh/article/download/175095/164482
PUBLICATIONS
“I’m waiting for that”: Interest in the use of PrEP for safer conception in Botswana.
Gutin S, Harper G, Amico R, Bitsang C, Moshashane N, Harries J, Ramogola-Masire D, Morroni C. Global Public Health. 2020.
Performance of Two-Stage Cervical Cancer Screening with Primary High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Testing in Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
PUBLICATIONS
Etonogestrel concentrations among contraceptive implant users in Botswana using and not using dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy.
Hawkins L, Gertz AM, Badubi O, Sickboy O, Mussa A, Maotwe T, Whittaker PG, Schreiber CA, Ramagola-Masire D, Morroni C. Int J STD AIDS. 2020.
Etonogestrel concentrations among contraceptive implant users in Botswana using and not using dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy.
“I’m waiting for that”: Interest in the use of PrEP for safer conception in Botswana.
Bishop IJ, Gertz AM, Simon B, Tawe L, Lechiile K, Liu S, Teodoro N, Mussa A, Avalos A, Malima S, Maotwe T, Mokganya L, Westhoff CL, Morroni Cl. Contraception. 2020.
Gutin S, Harper G, Amico R, Bitsang C, Moshashane N, Harries J, Ramogola-Masire D, Morroni C. Global Public Health. 2020.
Luckett R, Mogowa N, Li HJ, Erlinger A, Hacker MR, Esselen K, Feldman S, Shapiro R, Morroni C, Ramogola-Masire D. Obstet Gynecol. 2019
PUBLICATIONS
Babalola CM, Mussa A, Ramogola-Masire D, Morroni C, Klausner JD. BMC Public Health 2024.
Wynn A, Mussa A, Ryan R, Babalola CM, Hansman H, Ramontshonyana K, Tamuthiba L, Ndlovu N, Wilson ML, Ramogola-Masire D, Klausner JD, Morroni C. BJOG 2024.
Hansman E. Mussa A, Ryan R, Babalola CM, Ramontshonyana K, Tamuthiba L, Ndlovu N, Bame B, Klausner JD, Morroni C, Wynn A. Sex Transm Dis 2024.
Mussa A, Wynn A, Ryan R, Babalola C, Hansman E, Simon S, Bame B, Tamuthiba L, Ramontshonyana K, Ndlovu N, Moshashane N, Masole M, Klausner JD, Morroni C. Int. J. STD AIDS 2023.
Todd CS, Lorenzetti L, Mussa A, Ridgeway K, Morroni C, Nanda K. Contraception 2024.
Mussa A, Jarolimova J, Ryan R, Wynn A, Ashour A, Bassett IV, Philpotts LL, Freyne B, Morroni C, Dugdale CM. Sex Transm Dis 2024
Yang K, Babalola CM, Mussa A, Ryan R, Wynn A, Simon S, Bame B, Morroni C, Klausner JD. Int. J. STD AIDS 2023
Ensor S, Mechie I, Ryan R, Mussa A, Bame B, Tamuthiba L, Moshashane M, Morroni C. Frontiers in Global Women's Health 2023.
GALLERY
CONTACT US
Get in touch with us to learn more about our work and how you can get involved.
Botswana Harvard Partnership (BHP)
Princess Marina Hospital
Plot 1836, North Ring Road
Gaborone
