Evaluation of the SRH/HIV Linkages Project in Botswana
Linking efforts to improve Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) with HIV services is vitally important. HIV is sexually transmitted or associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, and the presence of certain Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) further increases the risk of HIV transmission. Sexual and reproductive ill health and HIV often share root causes, including poverty, gender inequality, and the social marginalization of vulnerable groups. Linking SRHR and HIV is expected to improve health outcomes by improving access to and uptake of services, reducing stigma and discrimination, streamlining services and reducing duplication of efforts, increasing the efficient utilization of human resources, and increasing the cost-effectiveness of efforts.