Against All Odds: HIV/AIDS Epidemic Among Indigenous Papuans.
Becky (24) and her daughter, Emma, are seen inside their home. Becky is HIV-positive but she did not take ARV during her pregnancy. Emma died from a sudden illness before the age of two.
In Papua there are more records of housewives infected with HIV than sex workers. In most cases, housewives contracted HIV from their husbands. As a result, many pregnant women who are unaware of their infection often pass the virus to their infants. Fortunately, HIV testing on pregnant women is a mandatory practice conducted during prenatal care. Nevertheless, the transmission of HIV from mother to child still occurs, especially since many women have limited access to a clinic during their pregnancy.
