The myth of asexuality? Disability stigma as a barrier to sexual relationships in South Africa Literature review
Kaiser, Anita, Reid, D., and Boschen, Kathryn A. "Experiences of parents with spinal cord injury." Sexuality and Disability 30, no. 2 (2012): 123-137 (paying access)
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Kaiser, Anita, Reid, D., and Boschen, Kathryn A. "Experiences of parents with spinal cord injury." Sexuality and Disability 30, no. 2 (2012): 123-137 (paying access) Kaiser et al. extend knowledge of the sexuality of persons with spinal cord injuries by examining it from the perspective of a group of their parents.
Through case studies of women with lupus, Karlen draws attention to the positive sexual effects that disability can have (e.g., improved sexual relationships), noting that this runs counterintuitive to much of the extant medical literature.
The authors explore experiences of abuse among women with disabilities in Ghana using interviews. They conclude that women with disabilities in Ghana still face various forms of abuse because of cultural beliefs and norms and call for awareness programmes at the societal level.
Like the work of Dune (2013, 2014), Kattari explores how persons with physical disabilities negotiate their sexual identities with partners.
In this paper, Kattari uses a subsample of data from her previous work (Kattari, 2014), to explore how sexual and gender minorities with disabilities negotiate their sexual identities.
Katz et al. compare attitudes toward persons with physical and intellectual disabilities among university students. They find that although attitudes to both groups were generally negative, persons with physical disabilities were viewed more positively in a number of areas, including control over their sex drive and sexual responsibilities.
This study investigated rehabilitation professionals’ (N = 199) beliefs about the importance of addressing sexuality issues during rehabilitation using a survey. Results suggest that additional training in disability and sexuality issues is needed.
This study investigated whether rehabilitation professionals’ (N = 199) levels of comfort could be predicted by their sexuality attitudes and knowledge. Both sexuality attitudes and knowledge contributed to comfort levels, leading the authors to call for increased training in these areas.
The authors assessed the association between sexual satisfaction and various demographic variables (e.g., relationship status) among persons with physical disabilities. Findings suggest some gender differences (e.g., men with late onset impairment experience more difficulties; see also: Harrison et al., 2004).
This correlational study (N = 131) finds that low sexual satisfaction is associated with loneliness among a sample of Muslim hemodialysis patients.
In an effort to gain a greater understanding of the topic, Koch and Kralik explore how 12 women with multiple sclerosis construct their sexuality. The authors find that sexuality is seen as an everyday experience for women with disabilities, echoing previous work (e.g., Helmius, 1999).
Kolzet et al. focus on body image as a predictor of sexual dysfunction and its correlates among a sample of persons with multiple sclerosis.
Kraaimaat et al. examine predictors of sexuality (e.g., pain, depression) among a sample of persons with rheumatoid arthritis.
Kvam and Braathen utilise semi-structured interviews to uncover stories of sexual abuse experienced by women with disabilities in Malawi.The authors suggest the project is the first of its kind in Malawi and therefore sheds light on an area where previous knowledge is very limited (see also Braathen & Kvam, 2008).
The authors examine whether body and sexual esteem mediate the associations between sexual satisfaction, perceived disability severity, and social perceptions of the disability and interpersonal competencies. Findings indicate the importance of perceived attractiveness to others in mediating the negative relations between impact of the disability and interpersonal competencies.
Leibowitz and Stanton investigate how women (N = 24) experience and conceptualize their sexuality after traumatic spinal cord injury by accessing their narratives. Through these narratives, a conceptual model of sexuality is proposed.
Li and Yau attempt to gain insight into the sexuality of women (N = 10) with spinal cord injuries through in-depth interviews. They shed light on the experiences of women with disabilities within an under-researched context.
Liddiard draws upon the sexual stories of heterosexual men with disabilities in order to explore their embodied realities of purchasing of sex, pleasure and intimacy from non- disabled female sex workers. The paper contributes knowledge to an area where scholarship enquiry is limited; i.e. the intersection between disability and commercial sex.
Lindemann draws on over 100 hours of ethnographic fieldwork to illustrate how the performances of wheelchair rugby players construct disabled sexualities in the context of sport participation.
Among 118 men with physical disabilities, Linton finds that greater internal locus of control is positively associated with sexual satisfaction.
The authors apply Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory in order to better understand the sexuality of minority adolescents with disabilities. Participants were social workers (N = 13) and provided their dialogues on the subject through in-depth interviews.
MacDougall and Morin investigate the sexual attitudes of adults with physical disability, ranging from their interest in pornography to their own sexual experiences and habits.
Man et al. assess experimentally how romantically attractive non-disabled people (university students) find persons with physical disabilities, through the presentation of profiles of different individuals. They find that the presence of disability did not influence romantic attractiveness ratings.
Marini et al. explored whether non-disabled students (N = 408) would be attracted to having an intimate relationship with a wheelchair user if participants were able to first read a profile of them. They found that romantic attraction was moderated by several variables (e.g., gender, prior contact with persons who have physical disabilities).
Student attitudes (N = 810) toward having a relationship with a wheelchair user were explored, using a similar design to Marini et al. (2011). Overall, Marini’s work sheds light on the misgivings that non-disabled people may have about dating persons with physical disabilities.
The authors explore experiences of dating and intimate relationships amongst women who use a below-knee prosthesis. The authors argue their findings highlight the need for researchers and clinicians to give more attention to these important aspects of amputees’ lives.
This study assesses sexual interests, needs related to sexuality, and intimacy issues in severely impaired, late stage Huntingdon’s disease patients through use of structured interviews. The authors offer suggestions for caregivers, based on their findings (e.g., proving sexually orientated videos).
This study evaluates the sexual knowledge, experience, feelings and needs of persons with a physical disability, and compared them to people from the general population. Like many other comparative studies (e.g., Cheng & Udry, 2002), they find similarities between the two groups.
McCabe & McDonald evaluate relationships and sexuality among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their partners (see also Esmali et al. 2007). They found that partners of persons with MS were more likely than persons with MS to feel that MS had a negative impact on the physical and emotional support in their relationship.
McCabe et al. evaluate the association between the sexuality and quality of life of persons with a congenital physical disability (N = 60) using the Sexual Knowledge, Experience and Needs Scale.
This study investigates the association between the severity and duration of physical disability and sexual esteem, sexual depression, sexual satisfaction, and the frequency of sexual behaviour, using a particularly large sample of (N = 1, 196). Persons with physical disabilities generally reported more negative feelings and less sexual experiences than did persons without disabilities.
McLaughlin and Cregan explore the experiences that rehabilitation professionals have of addressing sexuality issues, an area where they note there is a paucity of literature. The findings suggest that all rehabilitation professionals need to become more knowledgeable about sexuality issues in stroke care and could benefit from further education and training in comprehensive sexual health care.
Mendes et al. compare the sexual satisfaction of persons with spinal cord injuries pre- and post-lesion and a non-disabled comparison group. The findings suggest there are changes in the sexual satisfaction of men, arising from the difficulty in maintaining a sex life similar to that experienced pre-lesion.
This early study on the topic of attitudes toward disabled sexuality recruited a small group of non-disabled students (N = 20) and asked about their attitudes to the sex lives of their disabled peers.
The authors explore the little researched area of examined why able-bodied women might choose to marry men with a significant, permanent physical impairment. They use the findings to construct a preliminary model of relationship development.
The authors examine the association between sexual identity, body image and life satisfaction among women with and without physical disability. The results illustrated similarities between the two groups (see also Javier et al. 2013) but also some differences, notably that women with physical disabilities experienced less sexual and life satisfaction, and more negative body image.
This piece of research conducted for the African Regional Sexuality Resource Center explores the sexuality of youth with physical disabilities in Lesotho, thus shedding light on an under- researched context.
Mullan et al. investigate health care providers' perceptions about their professional responsibility for persons with disabilities. Their analyses indicated that these professionals perceived that different categories of disability pose different risk of sexual exploitation.
Murray and Harrison investigate the meaning and experience of being a stroke survivor using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The authors call for post-stroke counselling regarding romantic and sexual relationships, as well as the need for health professionals to address issues such as social withdrawal.
Using a free-response methodology, Nario-Redmond contrasted stereotypes of men and women with disabilities against that of non-disabled men and women. Her results indicate the existence of global disability stereotypes applied to persons with disabilities, such as “dependent”, “incompetent” and “asexual” (see also Esmali et al. 2010).
Nosek et al. adopt a wellness perspective in order to identify domains of sexuality among women with physical disabilities. They use their findings to identify 5 domains, comparing them to physical, psychological, spiritual, developmental, and sociocultural aspects of wellness.
The authors use qualitative methods to identify forms of emotional, physical and sexual abuse that are directly related to disability. They suggest that the findings reveal the need to for the development of disability-sensitive abuse screening instruments and interventions to help women with disabilities recognise abuse.
Oksel and Gündüzoğlu explore the lived experiences of women with scleroderma. The authors find that the disruption of sexual life was the predominant theme within the data.
The paper investigates sexual behaviours and reproductive health knowledge among young persons with disabilities in Nigeria, using structured questionnaires. The findings show that there is an urgent need to develop specific programs for young persons with disabilities, especially for those in schools, to address knowledge and behaviour issues regarding reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.
O’Toole and Doe use participatory ethnography to present stories from parents with disabilities, suggesting that their empirical data offers a radical reconceptulisation of a little studied topic.
Parchomiuk investigates specialists’ attitudes towards the sexuality of persons with intellectual and physical disabilities. The findings suggest that specialists’ view most aspects of the sexuality of persons with physical disabilities more positively than persons with intellectual disabilities.
Parker qualitatively explores the experiences of couples where one partner is disabled (see also Esmali et al. 2007, 2010). Findings suggest that married couples are left virtually unsupported, both practically and emotionally, at times when their relationship may be under considerable strain.
This qualitative study investigates the lived experience of post-injury sexuality among women with spinal cord injuries (Li & Yau, 2006). The authors draw a number of practical conclusions for health professionals (e.g., that they must have an adequate understanding of how disability may impact sexuality in order to assist clients).
This study explores sexual and marital therapists’ experience of working with physically disabled clients, using Grounded Theory. Despite extensive experience, they found that disabled clients evoked stronger responses than other clients.
Pearson and Klook investigate the sexual behaviour of paraplegics in Hong Kong, contributing knowledge to an understudied context.
Peta et al. use a single case study to illuminate the intersectional nature of a disabled Zimbabwean woman’s sexuality experiences. Findings suggest these experiences are located between gender, culture, disability and sexuality.
The authors compare body image perceptions between multiple sclerosis patients and able- bodied controls. Findings highlight the importance in taking gender-specific issues into account when addressing the body image problems of persons with disabilities.
This paper describes a qualitative study on the experiences of mothers with physical disabilities, accessed through focus groups.
Rich accesses accounts of women with physical disabilities (N =19) who have experienced intimate partner violence. Results indicate that partner-abused women view themselves as possessing stereotypically feminine identities.
This phenomenological study examines the sexuality and relationship "lived experiences" of spinal cord injured women (N = 15).
Robillard and Fichten investigate the attributions of able-bodied college students (N = 99) about the sexuality of students with physical disabilities (see also Meyerson, 1977).
This study examines the effect of victim disability (physical vs. intellectual vs. none), victim resistance (physical vs. verbal vs. none) and respondent gender (male vs. female) on attributions of blame and credibility in a hypothetical case of child sexual abuse. Results emphasise the importance of these factors in influencing attribution in child sex abuse cases.
This study is a replication and extension of Man et al. (2006). Specifically, Rojahn et al. also measure implicit attitudes, finding a clear preference for physical health over disability, despite no stated preference in explicit attitudes.
Rolland explores key issues in intimacy and communication among couples’ where one partner is ill. Findings are used to outline treatment priorities for couples (e.g., about how to manage adversity).
The study examined levels of sexual satisfaction in relation to changes in sexual functioning among women with multiple sclerosis (N = 160). Results indicate that frequency of sexual activity and sexual desire ranked highest for having an impact on overall sex life.
Sakellariou qualitatively explores barriers to reclaiming sexuality among men with spinal cord injuries using unstructured interviews. Based on the findings, the author suggests that changes in education as well as the removal of physical barriers may positively influence societal attitudes toward disabled sexuality.
Sakellariou uses the same data from his 2006 paper to illustrate the importance of care of the self (e.g., life choices, use of technologies) to disabled sexuality.
The authors analyse sexual (dis)satisfaction among persons with disabilities in terms of occupational injustice, using in-depth unstructured interviews. They argue that occupational therapists should embrace occupational justice as the main purpose of the profession and include issues of sexuality in their agenda.
In this paper, A. S. Sanders et al. undertake the development and validation of a scale to assess sexuality and intimacy among persons with multiple sclerosis.
Research conducted by T. Sanders brings together work on disabled sexuality and sex work. Her empirical data is derived from interviews with both men with disabilities (Study 1) and sex workers (Study 2).
Schlesinger examines experiences of pain, intimacy and sexuality through phenomenological interviews with a sample of women with disabilities (N = 17).
Schrader’s Ph.D. thesis explores sexual esteem, perceptions of pregnancy, and maternal confidence in women with and without physical disabilities (N = 154). Like peer-reviewed comparative material (e.g., Shandra et al. 2014), the study highlights differences and similarities among women with and without disabilities.
Shakespeare reveals the complicated landscape of disabled masculinity through semi- structured interviews with 21 men with disabilities.
In this comparative study, Shandra et al. find that women with and without disabilities hold similar attitudes toward motherhood. The authors call for a deeper understanding of the reproductive needs of women with disabilities.
Shuttleworth qualitatively explores the sexuality experiences of 14 men with cerebral palsy, noting that, despite some challenges, most had experienced long-term sexual relationships.
This paper explores knowledge and attitudes towards persons with disabilities among rural women (N = 418) in Nepal, shedding light on this under researched context.
Slater’s Ph.D. thesis investigates the intersections between disability and youth, including in terms of sexuality, from a critical perspective.
Taleporos & McCabe investigate the body image concerns of persons with physical disabilities in Australia. Findings elucidate the impact of the (social) environment on body image and how body image may improve over time.
This comparative study compares the sexual lives of persons with and without physical disabilities, using a particularly large sample (N = 1196). Results highlighted some disadvantages for persons with physical disadvantages (e.g., lower sexual wellbeing).
Using the same large sample as Taleporos & McCabe (2003), the authors investigate the relationships between impairment severity, duration & body image. Findings suggest that those with severe disabilities may be particularly vulnerable to problems associated with their body esteem.
Taylor aims to understand the experiences of sexuality and intimacy of persons living with a terminal illness, through interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings emphasise that patients’ sexuality needs should be discussed with providers as part of holistic end of life care.
Tepper offers a first person account of disability and (male) sexuality, by disseminating his autobiographical experiences.
In this cross-sectional study, Tervo et al. find that student health professionals hold less positive attitudes toward disability than is normal.
Umoren et al. investigate sexual attitudes and risk behaviour among able-bodied and disabled youths in Nigeria. The authors argue that health care planners should consider sexual risk behavior in improving perceived HIV-vulnerability in both impaired and able-bodied populations.
Valvano et al. investigate healthcare students’ experiences and training of addressing the sexual needs of physically disabled clients. The authors suggest implementing a more comprehensive sexual health curriculum into training programmes.
Van der Stege et al. assess professionals’ (N =336) intentions to use a board game (SeCZ TaLK) to facilitate discussion about sexual health among youth with chronic disabilities (see also Van der Stege et al. 2010). Motivation and practitioner competency were identified as determinants of behavioural intentions.
Van Rooy & Mufane explore sexual and HIV perceptions among persons with disabilities in Namibia, using focus groups and interviews. The study highlights the difficulties and differences in healthcare that persons with disabilities face within an understudied context.
This comparative study compares the sexual desires and experiences of disabled and non- persons with disabilities. Results suggest some similarities (e.g., in terms of sexual desires) and differences (e.g., less sexual knowledge and experience) among the disabled group.
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Using a cross-sectional survey, Verschuren et al. investigated how the sexuality of amputees is discussed in healthcare departments. Findings suggest that this topic is rarely discussed in a systematic way and therefore, that the competence and comfort of professionals in this area needs to increase.
The authors investigate disability attitudes from the theoretical perspective of attachment theory. Results suggest that attachment style does indeed influence disability attitudes, thus providing a new perspective by which attitudes can be examined.
Vilchinsky et al. find that observer gender influences disability attitudes but that target gender does not, providing experimental evidence of societal perception of the disabled as asexual.
This study compares the reproductive health knowledge of women with and without disabilities. Results highlight the need for healthcare professionals to respond to the special requirements of women with disabilities.
A.S. Walters et al. investigate the relationship between sexual satisfaction and quality of life in the context of amputees. Results indicate that sexual satisfaction is positively predictive of quality of life.
Were et al. explore the sexuality of youth with disabilities in Kenya, using a combination of interview, focus group and conversational data. The authors call for the empowerment of disabled youth in Kenya through transforming extant policies and practices related to sexual healthcare
This study investigated personal factors (e.g., gender, spirituality) and educational factors (e.g., quality of education) as predictors of knowledge, comfort and competency in dealing with disabled sexuality among student health professionals (N = 486).
Westgren and Levil elucidate the sexuality experiences of women with spinal cord injuries, through a series of semi-structured interviews. Results suggest a strong influence of pre-injury sexual behaviour on post-injury adaptation.
Whitney examines how queer women with disabilities construct their identities through the use of semi-structured interviews.
Wiegerink et al. examine personal and situational predictors of romantic relationships and sexual activity among youth with cerebral palsy. Findings emphasise that self-efficacy, self-esteem and sexual esteem are facilitators of romantic relationships and sexual encounters.
This descriptive study sheds light on the psychosocial impact of chronic lymphoedema on patients in a district of Sri Lanka.
Wolfe investigates the attitudes of healthcare professionals (N = 98) toward the sexuality of persons with disabilities. She finds that attitudes are generally more conservative toward those who have severe disabilities.
Yoshida, Li and Odette investigate the experiences of ethnic minority women with disabilities through focus groups. They note that while commonalities exist between ethnic minority women with disabilities and women with disabilities in general, the former also experience additional barriers.
Zaviršek presents the first person accounts of Slovenian women with disabilities who were subjected to sexual abuse in order to highlight the structural causes of this abuse (e.g., societal perception that women with disabilities are asexual). ii): South AfricaResearch conducted on attitudes toward the sexuality of persons with physical disabilities in South Africa tends to have some key differences to work conducted elsewhere. The most obvious of these is an increased focus on attitudes toward and knowledge of HIV, among persons with disabilities, their parents and educators. Attention is also paid to how traditional cultural beliefs about both disability and gender may shape sexuality attitudes.
Barry recounts her autobiographical experiences of becoming disabled in South Africa.
Basson qualitatively explores the lives of 17 South African women with disabilities in the context of their sexuality and HIV perceptions. The study sheds light on an under-researched area, identifying, notably, that nearly all the women had experienced sexual abuse.
See Reading Note 1 p.16
See Reading Note 2 p.17
See Reading Note 3 p.19
See Reading Note 5 p.23
Using data collected as part of a larger project (see Chirawu et al., 2014; de Reus et al., 2015), the authors develop a measure to assess the needs and practices of educators who deliver sexuality education to learners with disabilities.
See Reading Note 6 p.25
Maart and Jelsma examine the sexual behaviour of physically disabled adolescents (N = 91) in Cape Town. They found evidence that disabled adolescents are indulging in risky sexual behaviours (e.g., not using protection) and argue that this group must not be excluded from mainstream health promotion activities.
See Reading Note 7 p.27
Reasoning that sexuality is shape by childhood, McKenzie and Swartz investigate stigma and abuse among disabled children in South Africa. The authors find that a healthy development of sexuality among this population may be limited by high levels of stigma that they experience.
See Reading Note 9 p.31
See Reading Note 10 p.32
See Reading Note 11 p.34
This Masters’ thesis investigates the impact of HIV among persons with disabilities in South Africa, using a survey (N = 74). Findings indicate that the majority of respondents considered HIV to be a relevant issue, however other findings, such as “it is not clear if disabled people are at risk of HIV”, are at odds with peer-reviewed work (e.g., Hanass-Hancock, 2009).
Wogqoyi employs mixed methods to investigate the prevalence of abuse among children in an area of Eastern Cape. Parents/caregivers indicated low levels of knowledge of the definitional aspects of abuse, but were aware of its occurrence among children with disabilities (including sexual abuse). Yüklə 285,89 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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