Sexual behaviours and reproductive health knowledge among in‐school young people with disabilities in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

PurposeThe paper seeks to explore sexual behaviours and reproductive health knowledge among in‐school young people with disabilities (PWD) in Ibadan, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachIn the paper a structured questionnaire was administered to 103 randomly selected PWD, aged ten to 25, from four integrated secondary schools in Ibadan. The data were collected through face‐to‐face interview. Five categories of disability included were hearing and speech, sight, speech, intellectual, and physical disabilities.FindingsThe paper finds that 57 percent of the sample were females and 43 percent were males. Of the 36 (35 percent) respondents who were sexually active, 17 did not give a definite reason for their sexual initiation, nine were influenced by peers, five were “experimenting” with sex, four were raped, while one person began sexual activity for monetary gains. A total of 17 percent of the respondents had either procured abortion or been involved in the procurement of abortion for a sexual partner. In total 28 percent of the sample reported ever being raped. In total, 43 percent had been fondled, kissed, or caressed, against their wishes. Knowledge of contraceptives was reported by 40 percent. A total of 23 percent had never used condoms, while 6 percent were consistent condom users. Half of the respondents had heard about HIV/AIDS, 9 percent had tested for HIV, while 16 percent reported previous episodes of sexually transmitted infections. In total, 70 percent did not know where they could access reproductive health services.Originality/approachThe paper shows that there is an urgent need to develop specific programs for young people with disabilities, especially for those in schools, to address knowledge and behaviour issues regarding reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.

Sexual abstinence and HIV knowledge in school-going adolescents with intellectual disabilities and non-disabled adolescents in Nigeria

“…This indicates an urgent need to develop interventions tailored to the specific needs of this group of adolescents. Similar results were reported by other researchers (McGillivray 1999, Dawood et al 2006, Olaleye et al 2007). On the contrary, Gilbert (2007) reported a high level of HIV knowledge in a sample of learners with intellectual impairments with prior exposure to HIV education, showing that HIV-prevention education in appropriate format can increase HIV knowledge of this category of learners.…”

“…In addition, stakeholders such as teachers, parents, caregivers, and HIV experts or health workers often lack skills and tools to pass on HIV-prevention education in accessible formats to individuals with intellectual impairments (Olaleye et al 2007, Rohleder and Swartz 2009, Rohleder et al 2012. Apart from advocating the development and inclusion of tailored HIV-prevention and sexuality education interventions in the school curriculum, parents, caregivers, teachers and communities should participate and/or collaborate in such endeavours (Birch, Angermeier andGentsch 2002, Brown andJemmott 2002).…”

Differences in HIV knowledge and sexual practices of learners with intellectual disabilities and non‐disabled learners in Nigeria

“…Previous research findings indicate that persons with disabilities access HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information from a range of sources but mostly from radio, television and health professionals [15–17]. However, available evidence suggests less access to HIV/SRH information and services and more risky sexual practices among persons with intellectual disabilities than other persons with disabilities [15,18]. There are documentations of inadequate HIV transmission and prevention knowledge, as well as risky sexual behaviours among persons with different impairments, with female tending towards lower HIV knowledge than male [15,16,19,20].…”

“…Furthermore, a study [18] explored sexual behaviours and reproductive health knowledge of in-school young persons with hearing, visual, speech, intellectual and physical disabilities in Ibadan, Nigeria (only 10 of the 103 participants had intellectual impairments). They found that 35% of their participants were sexually experienced.…”

HIV issues and people with disabilities: A review and agenda for research

“…Studies with people with disabilities or staff and key informants report relatively high rates of unsafe sex and other risk behaviours including substance use, transactional sex, and reported incidence of previous sexually transmitted diseases (Blanchett, 2000;Brown et al, 1997;Cambridge, 1996;Carey et al, 1997;Carey et al, 1999;Carey et al, 2001;Carey et al, 2004a;Chandra et al, 2003;Choquet et al, 1997;Chopra et al, 1998;Chuang & Atkinson, 1996;Collins et al, 2008a;Collins et al, 2008b;Davidson et al, 2001;Devieux et al, 2007;Gordon et al, 1999;Grassi et al, 1999a;Grassi et al, 1999b;Kalichman et al, 1994;Katz et al, 1994;Kelly et al, 1992; M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 14 1995; Maart & Jelsma, 2010;Meade & Sikkema, 2007;Meade & Sikkema, 2005;Menon & Pomerantz, 1997;Menon et al, 1994;Myer et al, 2009;Ogunsemi et al, 2006;Olaleye et al, 2007;Otto-Salaj et al, 1998;Randolph et al, 2009;Rohleder, 2010;Smit et al, 2006;Susser et al, 1995;Thompson, 1994;Touko et al, 2010;Vanable et al, 2007;Weinhardt et al, 1998;Walkup et al, 1999).…”