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[Sexuality in Down syndrome individuals]
Talita Borges Castelão1, Márcio Ruiz Schiavo, Pedro Jurberg
1Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. talitac@iae-sp.br
Objective:
To evaluate parents and health professionals' opinions on the sexuality of Down syndrome individuals and to describe how these individuals see their own sexuality.
Methods:
Both quantitative and qualitative analyses have been applied in the study. A total of 809 questionnaires were to parents and health professionals (348). Twelve focal groups' sessions were carried out separately with parents, professionals and DS individuals. Chi-square test was performed in the analysis.
Results:
Parents see their children as eternal kids as they are afraid of the utmost outcome of their children's sexual life: unwanted pregnancy, and risk of syndrome recurrence. Health professionals revealed to be unprepared to provide sexual advice for DS individuals and adequate parents' attitude to their children's sexual drive.
Conclusions:
Down syndrome sexuality develops similarly to other individuals, but DS individuals experience restrictions depending on their social context.