“High Number of Undetected HIV Cases in Indonesia: Ministry of Health Reveals Data and Adverse Effects”

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Mohammad Syahril conveyed the adverse effects and data related to patients suffering from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Indonesia.

From data from the Ministry of Health as of December 2022, it was recorded that there were 526,841 people suspected of having HIV.

However, of that number, only 429,215 of them had been detected and knew they had HIV. While about 100,000 others are still undetected.

“Out of 526,841 people with HIV, only 429,215 have been detected or know their HIV status. So around 80 percent,” said Syahril in a virtual press conference, Monday (8/5/2023).

“That means, there are 100,000 people from the previous number, 526,000 minus these 429,000, around 100,000 with HIV that has not been detected and has the potential to transmit HIV to other people,” he said again.

Also read: 4 HIV Risk Factors to Watch Out for

HIV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, from an HIV positive mother to her child, to the use of unsafe needles and blood transfusions.

Apart from that, Syahril also said that there were around 300,000 HIV positive patients who were still not getting treatment. This also increases the transmission of HIV disease.

“So, almost 60 percent do not get ARV (antiretroviral) treatment, which also has the potential to transmit HIV to the community,” he said.

Furthermore, Syahril detailed data on children who were born with HIV from their parents.

From the same data, there were 14,150 children who were HIV positive. They currently range in age from 1 to 14 years.

“If these 14,150 children have HIV status, it will affect their quality of life and their future,” said Syahril.

Also read: 7 Vulnerable Groups Affected by HIV Who Have High Risk Factors

According to Syahril, HIV transmission from HIV-positive mothers to children ranges from 20 to 45 percent of all other sources of HIV transmission.

Then, 33 percent of housewives are HIV positive due to exposure from their partners who have risky sexual behavior.

Meanwhile, Syahril revealed, only about 55 percent of potentially HIV-infected pregnant women took HIV tests, namely around 7,153 people.

Of the 7,153 HIV-positive pregnant women, 76 percent had not received antiretroviral treatment, thereby increasing the risk of transmission to the baby.

“So, HIV-positive mothers who do not get ARV treatment will be at risk of transmission to their babies,” said Syahril.

Also read: Delivery of ARV Drugs for People with HIV in Jakarta Expanded

On that occasion, Syahril hopes that parents can carry out screening or detection related to HIV.

Meanwhile, HIV positive parents are asked to undergo treatment so as not to infect their children.

It also reminded the community not to stigmatize people with HIV.

“Everyone is our brother who really needs to be followed up, be it treatment or prevention so that further transmission does not occur and specifically to babies who will later become children as our next generation whose hopes are that the body must be healthy and not disabled due to transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. this,” said Syahril.

Also read: Know What HIV Rash Is and Its Types

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