In Reply to: 600.000 in a night posted by Boxer on Sunday, 27. January 2008 at 09:00 Bali Time:
AIDS/HIV are at declared ‘concentrated epidemic levels' (Kuta Conference 2004) in Indonesia, and Bali is a part of Indonesia with a high level of comparatively wealthy travellers and consequently a high level of sex workers and ‘incidental' sexual activity. In '07 evidence indicated that for the first time the greatest proportion of new infections resulted from sexual activity rather than drug use and that over 10% of the known prostitutes were HIV/AIDS infected. It is estimated ('07) that well over half of the sex customers in Bali are at risk of serious infection if THEY THEMSELVES do not take precautions. The 2004 conference detailed 90-3,000 known cases of infected people but in 2007 the total number of cases was over 4,000 including 60 cases amongst secondary students. 67% of cases are linked to sexual transmission and 33% to drug use.
Evidence suggests that one third of cases result from shared needles in drug use and the remainder mainly from sexual activity. Drug use, possession and sale in Indonesia is a very risky business with incarceration in some of the worst third world gaols being only part of the risk. That friendly supplier who is offering you a trip to paradise is very likely to be a police informer as well as an addict who will finger you to ensure his own protection.
The National Narcotic Agency (BNN) reported 4389 cases of HIV/AIDS - April '05 figures. 53% of these were in Bali and are claimed to have resulted from shared drug/needle use. t is further claimed that these figures, although official, are only 'the tip of the iceberg' with most cases not being reported or not being detected and so not being treated.
In 2007 new cases of AIDS accumulated at almost 50 a month!
Condoms are available. Many travellers recommend bringing your own. In '07 a specialised condom shop opened in the Discovery Mall centre on Jl Kartika Plaza in Tuban. Very small but easy to see in its bright red paintwork. The range is 'mind boggling' according to the local press report.
The most active brothels are in Jl Danau Poso, Sanur.
There are no compulsory medical checks of sex workers in Indonesia.