International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Attitude of Parents of Mild and Moderate Intellectually Challenged Children towards Imparting Sexual Health Education

Author Affiliations

  • 1 Dept. of Human Development and Research Centre, Smt VHD Central Institute of Home Science, Seshadri Road, Bangalore-560 001, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Social Sci., Volume 2, Issue (12), Pages 1-5, December,14 (2013)

Abstract

Attitude plays a significant role in influencing the parents of ICC, towards imparting sexual health education, as it is considered as a social taboo. Further the negative influence in the attitude of the parents is due to the fact that intellectually challenged children are asexual in nature. Awareness in the form of intervention programme can bring about a paradigm shift in the attitude of the parents of mild and moderate intellectually challenged children. Hence an attempt has been made in the present study to assess the attitude of the parents of mild and moderate intellectually challenged children towards imparting sexual health education. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample. Self structured tool formulated by the investigator was used to collect the data from the parents. A total of 600 sample, 300 fathers and 300 mothers of intellectually challenged children aged between 09-17 years were selected for the present study. They were further subdivided into experimental group and control group [Experimental group comprising of 150 fathers and 150 mothers and Control group comprising of 150 fathers and 150 mothers]. One hundred and fifty nine parents were identified for the intervention programme from experimental group. A total of 75 fathers (45 of them with mild ICC and 30 fathers of moderate ICC), a total of 84 mothers (48 mothers of mild ICC and 36 with moderate ICC). Descriptive statistical analysis has been carried out for the present study. Pre-assessment data revealed that parents of both control and experimental group have negative attitude towards imparting sexual health education to their mild and moderate intellectually challenged children. The Post-assessment data revealed that parents of experimental group who received comprehensive intervention program had developed positive attitude towards imparting sexual health education when compared to control group. The study highlights the fact that since parents are the primary educators of their intellectually challenged children they must be prepared to educate their children on Sexual health education. Further there is a need to educate the parents on the pivotal role of sexual health education, so as to develop a positive attitude towards imparting sexual health education, to protect their children from becoming victim of sexual abuse and to support their intellectually challenged children to develop a social identity.

References

  1. Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) fact sheet: Issues and answers: Fact sheet on sexuality education, SIECUS Report, 29(6),(2001)
  2. United Nations, Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, New York: United Nations General Assembly, (2006)
  3. Siddiqi SU., Van Dyke DC. and Donohoue P., Premature sexual development in individuals with neurodevelopment disabilities, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 41, 392–395(1999)
  4. Shah P., Norlin C., Logsdon V. and Samson-Fang L., Gynecological care for adolescents with disabilities: physician comfort, perceived barriers, and potential solutions. Journal of Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology, 18(2), 101-104 (2005)
  5. National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities Sexual exploitation, NICHCY News Digest, 1(3), 22 (1992)
  6. Robie H. Harris., Start Early, and Definitely Before Puberty, (2013) www.nytimes.com/roomforde
  7. Davis S.L., Koblinsky S.A. and Sugawara A.I., Evaluation of sex education program for parents of young children, Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 12, 32-36 (1986)
  8. McKay, A., Rural parents’ attitudes toward school-based sexual health education, Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 5, 15-23 (1996)
  9. Tsutsumi, Angela aparecida, Sexual health and behavior of mentally retarded pupils in Japan. Department of pharmacology, Educational Review, 6(10), (2009)
  10. Gardner N.E.S., “Sexuality,” in J.A. Summers, ed., The Right to Grow Up: An Introduction to Adults with Developmental Disabilities (Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes), 45-66 (1986)
  11. Begab M.J., Adapting Techniques for the Mentally Retarded, in M. Schreiber, ed., Social Work and Mental Retardation (New York: John Day Company), 332-45 (1970)
  12. Sari H., An Analysis of Turkish Parents’ Attitudes Towards Sexual Education of Students with Mentally Handicapped, Selcuk University, Egitim Fakultesi, Meram. Konya. 42090, (2005) TURKEY hakansari hotmail.com
  13. Pownall J.D., Jahoda A., Hastings R. and Kerr L., Sexual Understanding and Development of Young People with Intellectual Disabilities: Mothers’ Perspectives, American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (2010)
  14. Coren C., Teenagers with mental disability lack reproductive education and knowledge: still many have sex, Digest: Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 35(4), 187–195 (2003)
  15. Garbutt R., Sex and Relationships for People with Learning Disabilities: A Challenge for Parents and Professionals, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 5, 266-277 (2008)