Sexual and Reproductive Health
Research activities
People in all parts of the world should be able to make informed decisions regarding their SRH. We maintain a broader perspective on the promotion of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights by addressing one overarching research question: “How can we improve SRH and focus on disease prevention and health promotion in a globalised world?”
We respect sexual and reproductive rights in enabling environments and build on scientific evidence to work towards equal access. Our work is focused on several critical intersections between four key populations and SRH topics.
Units
Research Portal
Dive into our extensive research on sexual and reproductive health.
Advanced education
We continually contribute to education and teaching, both internally at ITM and externally. The SRH Research Group is involved in the:
Master of Science in Public Health:
HIV and STI Response (3-week course)
Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV (3-week course)
Qualitative and Mixed Methods research in International Health (Short Course)
Tropical Medicine and International Health (Postgraduate course)
Tropical Medicine for Bachelors in Nursing and Midwifery (Postgraduate course)
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Maternal and newborn health in urban areas
Our team is studying the dynamics of provision and utilisation of maternal and newborn health services in urban areas, particularly in large cities.
Research themes
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Bacteria have found various ways to develop resistance (AMR), of which resistance to antibiotics is a problem reaching across many different domains. -
Tireless effort is crucial to eliminate human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, in the world. For more than a century, ITM has been playing its part.
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Arboviruses such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika are urgent public health threats in tropical and subtropical areas.
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By combining efforts on biological, human and societal aspects of the disease, ITM hopes to control and ultimately eliminate malaria in the long term.
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Neglected (tropical) diseases are high on the agenda. For many years, ITM has been actively involved in research on NTDs, in particular on leishmaniasis, leprosy and sleeping sickness.
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Before vaccines or drugs can be used in the general population, their safety and effectiveness are thoroughly investigated in clinical trials.
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The research of ITM on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS is of inestimable value.
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For more than 10 years, ITM has been actively monitoring exotic mosquitoes in Belgium.
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ITM is closely monitoring the development of the mpox disease, both in Belgium and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
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ITM’s research on tuberculosis (TB) is world-renowned. Its shorter combination treatment for resistant tuberculosis was a worldwide breakthrough. Our researchers study new diagnostics and case detection techniques, with the largest public collection of TB strains in the world at their disposal.
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EcoHealth is an interdepartmental group that unites researchers from different backgrounds and disciplines. We all recognise the need for comprehensive, systemic approaches to address current health challenges that emerge at the interface between humans, animals and their broader natural, social and political environments.
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Since the beginning, ITM has been providing medical services to people returning ill from overseas. As such, ITM accumulated profound knowledge of tropical diseases, as well as STIs and HIV.
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The right to health implies that everybody, everywhere should have access to the needed essential health products, included but not limited to diagnostics, vaccines and medicines.
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Clinical, epidemiological and diagnostics studies, secondary analyses of health data and BioSamples, behavioural studies or any other studies that involve the participation of human individuals, should yield social value and be scientifically justified and ethically sound.
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In a highly interconnected world, ITM continues to innovate and develop its outbreak research capacity.
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ITM has decades of experience fighting infectious diseases and curbing epidemics. We are fully committed to helping stop the COVID-19 pandemic that is threatening the world. To this end, we work together with partners at home and abroad.
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Ebola is a deadly disease that was co-discovered in 1976 by researchers of the institute. ITM has been closely monitoring subsequent outbreaks on the African continent, as well as contributing to new developments in diagnostics and treatment.
