Health Ministry: 33% of HIV Transmission to Housewives from Husbands
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9 May 2023 22:38 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Health Ministry spokesman Mohammad Syahril revealed that the ministry recorded around 5,100 new HIV cases among housewives every year.
“Every year, there are 5,100 new HIV cases among housewives,” Syahril said at the online press conference on the protection of children from sexually transmitted diseases in Jakarta, Monday, May 9, 2023.
Syahril explained that 33 percent of the HIV transmission to housewives was from their husbands who practiced risky sexual behavior. It thus led to a hike in HIV transmission from mother to children by 20-45 percent.
The transmission number due to risky sexual behavior is known to be higher than all other causes of HIV transmission, such as through the use of unsafe needles and blood transfusions.
The high number of cases among housewives was also triggered by low HIV testing. Only 55 percent of pregnant women are allowed by their husbands to test for HIV. “Of the figure, 7,153 tested positive, and 76 percent of them have not received ARV treatment. This will also increase the risk of transmission to the baby,” he outlined.
“Until now, there are 14,150 children aged 1-14 years who are HIV positive and this will affect the quality of life in the future. This figure increases every year by 700-1000 children,” Syahril added.
If this is left aside, Syahril underlined that infections will continue to occur because out of 526,841 people with HIV, only 429,215 have been detected or acknowledged their HIV status. This means the other 100,000 people with HIV have not been detected and have the potential to transmit HIV.
“In addition, as many as 300,000 HIV-positive patients do not receive treatment which also has the potential to transmit HIV,” he said.
Therefore, the Health Ministry spokesman emphasized that screening must be carried out and prioritized to break the vertical chain of HIV transmission from mother to baby.
ANTARA
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