Intellectual impairment and sexual health: information needs

Inclusion into the wider community for people with learning disabilities and intellectual impairment has been problematic for many people and in some cases the result has been an exacerbation of mental health problems or a reduction in adaptive functioning. Research has found that people who have chronic mental illness or intellectual impairment are a sexually active group although they might not always be perceived as such. Therefore, there are questions that may be raised over an identified lack of sexual health promotion and practices surrounding safe sex. This short article will examine particular barriers to sexual health care for this patient group in the areas of consent (to sexual acts, screening and treatment), communication and health promotion in this field. Implications for future practice are discussed.