Awareness among parents of individuals with intellectual disability about sexual health education

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Most of the parents have no idea that how and when they should educate about sexual health to their typically growing children. It is important for parents to educate their children with intellectual disability about sexual health. The risk of sexual exploitation and abuse is very high in individuals with intellectual disability. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to find out the awareness among the parents of individuals with intellectual disability about sexual health education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects for the present study were the parents of individuals with intellectual disability studying at government rehabilitation institute for intellectual disabilities, chandigarh (n = 100). The present study is a cross-sectional study and subjects were selected by making use of random sampling technique. A Rating scale on "Awareness on sexual health education for parents of intellectually challenged children" developed by Lakshmi and Navya, (2014) was used. RESULTS: The results revealed that there is a significant difference in knowledge, attitude, and practice among the parents of individuals with intellectual disability about sexual health education. The significant difference with respect to the gender on awareness about sexual health education (knowledge, attitude, and practice) among the parents of individuals with intellectual disability was found. No significant difference with respect to family type on awareness about sexual health education was found. CONCLUSION: Parents who live in rural locality have responded greater on the knowledge and practice than those who live in urban locality. However, parents living in urban locality have scored more on attitude over the parents who live in rural locality.