Browsing by Author "Motshwane, Judith Ntsiki"

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    Caregivers’ 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.