The reproductive health education to adolescents with intellectual disabilities: Perspectives of parents, teachers, and caregivers

Abstract

Teaching reproductive health knowledge from an early age to children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities is essential. They are more susceptible to sexual abuse and to developing inappropriate sexual behaviour than typical children. This research aims to explore the understanding of parents, teachers and caregivers regarding the reproductive health of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and the challenges parents face in providing reproductive health and sexuality education. The research methods are a literature review of 27 articles and group interviews attended by 13 participants consisting of parents, teachers and caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities. Results show that reproductive health issues faced by children with intellectual disabilities are not fully understood by parents, teachers, and caregivers, which contributes to challenges in providing reproductive health and sexuality education to children. Existing intervention programs need to be equipped with tools, while the program’s content and method of information delivery need to be improved.