Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies
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Browsing Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies by browse.metadata.advisor "Kahonde, Callista"
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- ItemCaregivers’ perceptions of the sexuality of adolescents with severe intellectual disability in special care centres in the North West Province of South Africa(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03) Motshwane, Judith Ntsiki; Kahonde, Callista; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Centre for Rehabilitation Studies.ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: Caregivers in special care centres play many roles in the lives of children and young adults with severe intellectual disabilities which include being a carer, an educator and a companion. In South Africa, there is lack of research to guide the understanding of how caregivers perceive sexuality issues of these young people with severe intellectual disabilities under their care. It has also been noted from the literature that many studies have focused on service providers’ perceptions of sexuality of people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and there is paucity of literature on caregivers’ perceptions of the sexuality of people with severe intellectual disabilities in South Africa. This study therefore took an initial step in addressing the gap by exploring caregivers’ perceptions of the sexuality of adolescents with severe intellectual disabilities in five special care centres in the North West Province of South Africa. Aim: To explore and describe caregivers’ perceptions of the sexuality of adolescents with severe intellectual disabilities in five special care centres in the North West Province of South Africa. Method: The study used an exploratory descriptive qualitative design. Semi-structured in-depth telephonic interviews were conducted with nine caregivers working in the special care centres. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: The findings show a range of participants’ perceptions. The participants thought the adolescents were not coping with their body changes and they lacked understanding of both the emotional and physical changes experienced at puberty. They also believed that adolescents must be discouraged from sexual expression or activity. The findings also revealed that the participants find responding to the adolescents’ sexuality challenging as they lacked skills and knowledge to guide their approaches. They expressed a need for training. The findings further revealed participants’ perceptions of the role of parents, pointing towards the impact of parents’ restrictive attitudes, disinterest and misunderstanding of their children with intellectual disability’s sexuality. Conclusion: The study gave an insight into the perceptions of caregivers of the sexuality of adolescents with severe intellectual disabilities in the study setting. The findings identify an urgent need for caregivers to receive training so that they gain skills and confidence to respond to the sexuality of their care recipients in a positive and supportive way. There is also need for strategies to educate parents and involve them in the sexuality education of the adolescents. Sexuality policies, guidelines and structured programmes are essential for caregivers to have tools to guide them.
- ItemA case study exploring community inclusion of adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in/attend protective workshops in Cape Town(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Pitt, Catherine; Geiger, Martha; Kahonde, Callista; Mji, Gubela; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Centre for Rehabilitation Studies.ENGLISH SUMMARY: Research shows that persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) are the most marginalized group among persons with disabilities in South Africa. Despite the progress in this country towards an inclusive and free country, persons with ID are not experiencing their full citizenship. Although South Africa signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) almost two decades ago, persons with ID still have limited access to services that can facilitate their inclusion into communities. Some progress has been made in education with children with ID, but little progress has been made towards the inclusion of adults with ID into employment and community activities. Furthermore, they are seldom included in research even when the research seeks to understand their day-to-day experiences. This study therefore set out to explore the community inclusion opportunities and aspirations of persons with ID attending a protective workshop in Cape Town. This study used a case study methodology within a constructivist paradigm to explore the participants’ aspirations and opportunities for community inclusion. Methods of data collection were carefully selected and planned to ensure meaningful inclusion of the participants in the data collection process. The methods included interviews, focus groups, community mapping and field notes, which were supported by tools like pictures, icons, games, community maps and repetition of the questions and discussions. An analysis of secondary data was also conducted to seek further understanding of the study context and confirm the findings from other sources of data. Twenty-eight adults with ID within the age range of 21 and 54 years, recruited from two protective workshops, participated in the study. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and four themes were generated, namely; what I do in my community, what I want from independence, the significance of relationships, and the importance of work. Their inclusion opportunities in their community ranged from assisting in their homes, and participating in community activities and hobbies and the importance of work in achieving their experience of independence and relationships was described. The participants aspired to be included in more activities independently, understanding the barriers that their impairment and the context presented. Possible supports were identified to overcome their barriers. The findings demonstrate that with appropriate support available, persons with ID are capable of contributing meaningfully to their communities. This disrupts the status quo of myths and stereotypes about persons with ID that marginalize them. The participants grappled with the conflict of their desire for independence versus their identified vulnerability. Further, they described the variety of relationships that they find to mitigate loneliness. Finally, work was described as a facilitator of inclusion. These findings can inform policy developers to effect changes to service provision to establish supports for persons with ID to be included in their communities. Emerging from these findings was a possible tool of community inclusion which aligns the environment with the supports of persons with ID to facilitate inclusion in the activities of their own choice.