Rights versus Risks: The Tension in Sexual Education for Learners with Intellectual Disability

dc.contributor.advisorWard, Catherine
dc.contributor.authorBouic, Isabelle
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-07T14:30:00Z
dc.date.available2021-07-07T14:30:00Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.date.updated2021-07-07T08:34:17Z
dc.description.abstractSouth African society has a high prevalence of sexual abuse and violence, and those with intellectual disability (ID) are more likely to be victimized. Therefore, there is a need for sexual education programmes that cater to learners with ID. In South Africa, national policy overlooks individuals with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities who are predominately placed in separate special needs schools. Gaps in skills, resources and attitudes required for effective curriculum implementation are reported barriers to implementing sexual education. Furthermore, barriers to implementation are compounded by pre-existing societal stigma surrounding both sexuality and disability. This exploratory study thus aimed to examine educators' experiences of using the Western Cape Forum for Intellectual Disability's All About Me sexual education programme. Interviews conducted with 15 educators and management staff aim to explore, describe and identify the facilitating factors and barriers to its implementation. The research design entails Template Analysis of interview data, using a priori codes drawn from existing literature in the interpretation of results. The key finding was that school staff struggle to balance learners' rights to sexual education while protecting them from sexual risks. Recommendations are made for a whole-school balance of rights versus risks approach, supported by policy, and teaching sexual education from a young age – prior to puberty and maturation. Effective implementation entails a progressive curriculum with accessible resources that are contextually relevant. Addressing attitudes via regular training and open discussions are necessary for a shift in attitudes regarding ID and sexuality, for which parents are to be included in the process. Further research is required into effective sexual education for those with ID
dc.identifier.apacitationBouic, I. (2021). <i>Rights versus Risks: The Tension in Sexual Education for Learners with Intellectual Disability</i>. (). ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33444en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBouic, Isabelle. <i>"Rights versus Risks: The Tension in Sexual Education for Learners with Intellectual Disability."</i> ., ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33444en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBouic, I. 2021. Rights versus Risks: The Tension in Sexual Education for Learners with Intellectual Disability. . ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33444en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Master Thesis AU - Bouic, Isabelle AB - South African society has a high prevalence of sexual abuse and violence, and those with intellectual disability (ID) are more likely to be victimized. Therefore, there is a need for sexual education programmes that cater to learners with ID. In South Africa, national policy overlooks individuals with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities who are predominately placed in separate special needs schools. Gaps in skills, resources and attitudes required for effective curriculum implementation are reported barriers to implementing sexual education. Furthermore, barriers to implementation are compounded by pre-existing societal stigma surrounding both sexuality and disability. This exploratory study thus aimed to examine educators' experiences of using the Western Cape Forum for Intellectual Disability's All About Me sexual education programme. Interviews conducted with 15 educators and management staff aim to explore, describe and identify the facilitating factors and barriers to its implementation. The research design entails Template Analysis of interview data, using a priori codes drawn from existing literature in the interpretation of results. The key finding was that school staff struggle to balance learners' rights to sexual education while protecting them from sexual risks. Recommendations are made for a whole-school balance of rights versus risks approach, supported by policy, and teaching sexual education from a young age – prior to puberty and maturation. Effective implementation entails a progressive curriculum with accessible resources that are contextually relevant. Addressing attitudes via regular training and open discussions are necessary for a shift in attitudes regarding ID and sexuality, for which parents are to be included in the process. Further research is required into effective sexual education for those with ID DA - 2021_ DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Clinical Psychology LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2021 T1 - Rights versus Risks: The Tension in Sexual Education for Learners with Intellectual Disability TI - Rights versus Risks: The Tension in Sexual Education for Learners with Intellectual Disability UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33444 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/33444
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBouic I. Rights versus Risks: The Tension in Sexual Education for Learners with Intellectual Disability. []. ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 2021 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33444en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.subjectClinical Psychology
dc.titleRights versus Risks: The Tension in Sexual Education for Learners with Intellectual Disability
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMSocSci
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