Preliminary results of national HIV survey (BAIS V) demonstrate Botswana’s remarkable progress towards achieving HIV epidemic control

Gaborone, Botswana, 1 December 2021 – Preliminary results from the fifth Botswana HIV/AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS V), announced today by the President, His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi demonstrate that for the first time at a national level among adults aged 15-64, Botswana has exceeded the 2020 UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets which call for 90 percent of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) to be aware of their status, 90 percent of those aware of their status to be on antiretroviral treatment (ART), and 90 percent of those on ART to achieve viral load suppression.

BAIS V shows that among adults (15-64 years) in Botswana living with HIV, 93.2 percent were aware of their status, 97.9 percent of those aware of their status were on ART, and 98.0 percent of those on ART achieved viral load suppression. Based on these results, Botswana is well positioned to meet the more ambitious 95-95-95 targets set as a fast-track strategy to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2025.

BAIS V is a nationally representative household-based survey that was conducted between March and August 2021 to provide information on national and district-level progress toward key HIV targets and measure the status of Botswana’s HIV response. Survey results demonstrate that Botswana has met the 90-90-90 targets among adults aged 15–64, overall and among men and women separately. 93.2 percent of people living with HIV reported being aware of their status (90.8 percent among men and 94.5 percent among women), and of those aware of their status, 97.9 percent reported being on treatment (96.9 percent among men and 98.4 percent among women). Among those on treatment, 98.0 percent achieved viral suppression (96.8 percent among men and 98.7 percent among women). BAIS V also indicates a remaining gap in achieving the first 90 target (awareness of HIV status) among younger (adults aged 15–24) living with HIV; however, this younger age group has met the 2^nd and 3^rd 90 targets for both men and women.

Additionally, BAIS V showed that HIV prevalence among adults aged 15–64 is 20.9 percent – 15.4 percent among men and 26.3 percent among women. Compared to the BAIS IV survey, BAIS V demonstrates that prevalence in younger age groups has decreased, while that in older age groups has increased.  This suggests that people living with HIV in Botswana are adhering to treatment and living longer, due to the country’s successful HIV treatment programme. Indeed, BAIS V estimated that 91.9 percent of all adults living with HIV are virally suppressed.

The Government of Botswana led the execution of BAIS V through the National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA), the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), and Statistics Botswana (SB). The survey was conducted with financial support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) with technical assistance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore in collaboration with other government and non-government institutions at the district and national levels. All results displayed above are preliminary and may be subject to adjustments as analysis is concluded.

These preliminary results show tremendous progress towards achieving HIV epidemic control in Botswana and demonstrate the outstanding impact of the national HIV response. In the coming decade, Botswana is well-positioned to achieve the UNAIDS goal to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

BAIS V final results will be made available in 2022.

Click to view the announcement from President Masisi. 

“I am happy to report that the National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency with the support of the Government of the United States of America and the technical support from the University of Maryland, Baltimore completed the fifth Botswana AIDS Impact Survey, BAIS V, in July 2021. this was a nationwide survey meant to yield up to date data that reflects the current prevalence of HIV in Botswana and examine the impact of previous interventions. According to the survey's preliminary results, Botswana has made remarkable progress toward achieving epidemic control in the fight against HIV and AIDS by exceeding the 90-90-90 UNAIDS set targets.” – The President, His Excellency Dr. Mokweetsi E.K. Masisi

Ciheb Global leadership celebrate the announcement of the preliminary results of the BAIS V survey from President Masisi and the advances made in epidemic control in Botswana.

“Congratulations to the Government of Botswana in reaching these remarkable achievements in controlling the HIV epidemic and this is a testament to their commitment to confront the HIV epidemic” – Dr. Man Charurat, Principal Investigator of BAIS V, Global Director, Ciheb

“We were honored to support the Government of Botswana in their successful completion of BAIS V, and we congratulate them as a nation on their remarkable progress towards ending the HIV epidemic in Botswana.” – Dr. Kristen Stafford, Technical Director of BAIS V, Deputy Director, Ciheb