Bali is one of the most famous destination in Indonesia, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia. The population of the island of Bali is 4.22 million people, but the island receives over 3.5 million tourists each year and that doesn't even include visitors from around Indonesia!
Alongside the success of the tourist industry of Bali comes a great number of challenges to effectively combating HIV.
This highly diverse and mobile population means that HIV prevention in Bali is as difficult as it is important. Due to the diversity of the population in Bali, effective HIV Prevention in Bali is essential to the Indonesian and global HIV response. Sadly over the past 10 years, HIV rates in the gay (and other men who have sex with men) and transgender communities of Bali have increased.
20%
GAY MEN & OTHER MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN56.6%
OF TRANSGENDER WOMENHIV RATES
How long does it take for HIV to show up in a test?
Signs of HIV infection cannot be detected in the blood immediately – this usually happens within four weeks of infection (sometimes longer). Different tests take different lengths of time before they can detect a recent infection. If your risk was in the last three months tell the person testing you as you may have to come back for a follow up test. Whenever the risk was, don’t put off testing. If your risk was recent the testing centre will probably advise you to have a test immediately, followed by a second one a few weeks later (this will pick up any recent infection the first test might have missed).
Very occasionally it can take up to three months for antibodies to appear in the blood, so an HIV negative result is only totally accurate if three months have passed between the test and the last time a risk was taken. However, a negative result four to eight weeks after taking a risk is a very good sign that HIV infection hasn’t happened. But to be absolutely sure another test should be taken around eight weeks later; the testing centre will advise you.
What happens if I test positive?
If you have a rapid test and the result is positive a second test will be done to confirm the result. Following a positive result you’ll have a longer talk about what happens next, what support is available and arrangements will be made to see an HIV specialist who will take care of your health. Support groups, counsellors and online support are all available to help you get through this period.
See our HIV positive section for more information on living with HIV.