Tangerang, Indonesia – Health officials in Tangerangโ Regency have identified four children under five โคyears old who were infectedโฃ with HIV, with transmission occurring in utero fromโฃ their mothers. The cases were reported in โฃ2025, according to Hendra Tarmizi, Head of โฃthe โคTangerang regency Health Office.
“If there areโ four people โคthis year, on average its โฃbecause their mothers โขwere pregnant and HIV-positive. So, thay have โฃbeen exposed since the womb,” Hendra said โon friday, โSeptember 19, 2025.
Thes โขcases contribute to a total of 374โ HIV/AIDS cases recorded in Tangerang Regency throughout 2025, โwith theโข majority of those infected falling within the 25-60 ageโฃ range.
Health officials emphasize that mother-to-child โtransmission can be prevented through cesarean delivery, but only if theโ mother’sโ HIV โstatus is known โคprior to labor. “Usually, if birth is โvaginal, there is a risk of exposure, but if it โis a cesarean section, it can be avoided,” Hendra explained.
The four toddlers are currently receiving intensive treatment with pediatric-specific antiretroviral drugs. “The medicine is the same asโฃ for adults, only with different dosages,” Hendra โadded.
The Health โคOfficeโ attributes the majority of HIV transmissions in Tangerang to risky sexual behavior and,โ less commonly, blood transfusions. To combat the spread, the โคTangerang Regency Health Office is collaborating with community organizations โคto conduct health screenings, having tested 4,000 individuals, resulting in the โขidentification of the 374 positive cases.
“We urge the public not to have sexual relations outside of โmarriage because itโ is very โขrisky,” Hendraโ stated.