Author(s): Ms. Madhavi Sharma and Dr. Mohini Tewari

Abstract: Parents of children with special needs are less sensitized with regard to sex education, specifically in rural areas, they have no idea about the upbringing of their children with or without disabilities. With regard to sex education, parents feel shy to discuss the issue among themselves, it's still a big taboo in rural society, resulting in a lack of sexuality-related knowledge amongst the adolescent group with intellectual disabilities or any other disabilities. On today's date, it is of utmost importance to empower the adolescent group with disabilities with sexuality-related education, to make them lead a dignified life. People with disabilities are very prone to sexuality-related abuse in their daily life. This study aimed to study the awareness level amongst the parents of persons with intellectual disabilities regarding sexuality-related issues. The subjects of this study were parents of persons with intellectual disabilities who were studying at the Day care center for students with Intellectual disabilities in Nagpur (Sample size = 50). A cross-sectional research design with a purposive sampling method was used in this study. The scale developed by Lakshmi and Navya (2014) on Sexual Health Awareness Education for Parents of Children with Intellectual Disabilities was used. We found significant differences with respect to the knowledge they had regarding sexuality-related issues among the parents of persons with intellectual disabilities. Significant gender-related differences in sexual health education awareness (knowledge, attitudes, practices) were found among parents of people with intellectual disabilities. There was no significant difference in awareness of sexual health education by family type. Parents living in rural areas are less responsive to knowledge and practice than those living in urban areas. However, parents living in urban areas scored higher in the attitudinal dimensions than those living in rural areas.

DOI: 10.22271/27891607.2022.v2.i2b.88

Pages: 121-124 | Views: 453 | Downloads: 148

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