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The role of health care workers in supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities

Thesis (MEdPsych)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sexuality education forms part of the life skills learning area. Sexuality education has
become a means of providing the information learners need so they can prevent or
protect themselves against abuse and violence including rape. It also helps young
people to develop coping strategies in their social lives.
However, the approach in schools to sexuality education does not cater for the needs
of individuals with an intellectual disability. This study aims, therefore to explore
whether these individuals (those with intellectual disability) are provided in other
ways with information relating to sexuality education. The reason for selecting this
group is that research has found that individuals with intellectual disability are more
vulnerable to abuse, rape and violence. Hence, equipping them with skills on how to
deal and cope with those societal dangers is essential.
This study does not focus on those individuals with intellectual disability who are at
school but focuses on those that are out of school in the community. A questionnaire
is used to determine whether these individuals are adequately provided with sexuality
education. The participants of this study are the health care workers chosen because
they are the people who are supposed to be interacting on a regular basis with these
individuals. They are the people who provide individuals with an intellectual
disability with medication and treatment.
The findings of the study are that individuals with intellectual disability are not
provided with information on sexuality education. It is a challenge, therefore, to all
the service providers to equip and empower these individuals with information on
sexuality issues so they can cope with the societal pressures. The study also explores
the health workers' perceptions of and experiences with individuals with an
intellectual disability. The findings of the study are that the health care workers have
different perceptions of individuals with intellectual disability on issues of sexuality.
Most of their decisions are based on the individual's level of intellectual disability,
especially with regard to issues such as the right to have children and the desirability
of sterilisation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Seksuele opvoeding vorm deel van die lewensvaardighede-leerarea. Seksuele
opvoeding het 'n middel geword om kennis oor te dra aan leerders om hulle teen
mishandeling en geweld, insluitende verkragting, te beskerm en te verhoed dat hulle
daaraan blootgestel word. Dit rus jongmense ook toe om doeltreffender strategieë te
ontwikkel vir hulle daaglikse verkeer met ander persone.
Seksuele opvoeding op skool maak egter nie voorsiening vir persone met 'n
intellektuele gestremdheid nie. Hierdie navorsingsprojek het dus ten doel om vas te
stel of daar voorsiening gemaak word sodat hierdie persone (met 'n intellektuele
gestremdheid) seksuele opvoeding op ander maniere kan bekom. Die rede waarom
juis hierdie groep gekies word, is omdat navorsing getoon het dat persone met 'n
intellektuele gestremdheid kwesbaarder is vir mishandeling, verkragting en geweld.
Dit is noodsaaklik om hulle met vaardighede toe te rus om hierdie samelewingsgevare
die hoof te bied.
Hierdie navorsingsprojek fokus nie op persone wat op skool is nie, maar juis op dié
wat in die gemeenskap is. 'n Vraelys word gebruik om vas te stel of hierdie persone
voldoende seksuele opvoeding ontvang. Die deelnemers aan hierdie navorsingsprojek
is gesondheidswerkers omdat hulle veronderstel is om op 'n gereelde grondslag met
die betrokke individue in aanraking te kom. Húlle is die mense wat persone met
intellektuele ongeskiktheid van medikasie en behandeling voorsien.
Die bevindinge van hierdie projek is dat persone met intellektuele gestremdheid nie
van seksuele opvoeding voorsien word nie. Dit is dus 'n uitdaging aan
diensverskaffers om hierdie persone met kennis rakende kwessies oor seksualiteit toe
te rus en te bemagtig sodat hulle groepsdruk beter kan hanteer. Die projek verken ook
gesondheidswerkers se persepsies en ondervindinge aangaande persone met beperkte
verstandelike vermoëns. Die bevindinge van hierdie navorsingsprojek toon dat
gesondheidswerkers uiteenlopende persepsies het van persone met beperkte
verstandelike vermoëns rakende kwessies rondom seksualiteit. Die meeste van hulle
sienings is gebaseer op die persoon se vlak van intellektuele gestremdheid, veral
rondom sake soos die reg om kinders te hê en die wenslikheid van sterilisasie.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16479
Date12 1900
CreatorsFrance, Thembisa
ContributorsNewmark, R., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Educational Psychology.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
RightsStellenbosch University

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