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The sexual behaviour of physically disabled adolescents
Soraya Maart1, Jennifer Jelsma
1Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. soraya.maart@uct.ac.za
Disability and Rehabilitation
|February 2, 2010
Summary
Adolescents with physical disabilities engage in risky sexual behaviors, similar to their non-disabled peers, facing equal Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) risk. Inclusion in sex education and health promotion is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Risky sexual behavior significantly contributes to the rising prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
- Previous national surveys on adolescent sexual behavior excluded individuals with disabilities.
- This study addresses the gap by comparing sexual behaviors of adolescents with and without physical disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the sexual behaviors of adolescents with physical disabilities to those of their non-disabled peers.
- To highlight the importance of including disabled adolescents in sexual health research and interventions.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with learners in grades 8 and 9 with physical disabilities in Cape Town.
- Data were collected using an adapted version of the South African Youth Risk Behaviour Survey.
Main Results:
- Approximately one-quarter of disabled adolescents reported sexual activity, compared to one-third in the national sample.
- Disabled adolescents were less likely to believe they were at risk of contracting HIV and less likely to report condom use.
- Substance abuse related to sexual activity was similar between disabled and non-disabled adolescents.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents with physical disabilities engage in risky sexual behaviors and are at similar risk for HIV as their non-disabled peers.
- It is imperative to include adolescents with disabilities in mainstream research and sex education programs.
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