“…The positive attitudes, perceived readiness and education among social educator students may improve the currently missing professional support in relation to sexual issues for people with intellectual disabilities. However, previous studies have reported insufficient competences and education in the field of sexual health among professionals (Da glı et al, 2020;English et al, 2020;McDaniels & Fleming, 2016Powell et al, 2020;Remme, 2018;Wilson & Frawley, 2016). Research exploring the extent to which future social educators are able to include sexual health in their professional practice among people with intellectual disabilities is recommended.…”
Section: Differences Related To Age For Each Gendermentioning
confidence: 99%
“…There are studies showing insufficient readiness among students in health and welfare professions to address sexual health in their future profession (Areskoug Josefsson et al, 2016; Areskoug Josefsson & Fristedt, 2019; Areskoug Josefsson & Gard, 2015; Areskoug Josefsson, Rolander, et al, 2019; Ballan & Freyer, 2017; Felter, 2020), but none of these studies have included social educators focused on including attitudes towards persons living with intellectual disabilities, nor have they been performed in a Norwegian context. Other studies of students who are being educated to provide health advice for people with intellectual disabilities have reported a lack of competence in the field of sexual health (Ballan & Freyer, 2017; Dağlı et al, 2020; Felter, 2020; Fennell & Grant, 2019; McDaniels & Fleming, 2018), and have revealed misperceptions and stereotypical understanding of persons with intellectual disabilities (Ditchman et al, 2017; Grove et al, 2018; Kramers‐Olen, 2016). The students' attitudes and beliefs are based on their education, knowledge, and experiences (Esmail et al, 2010; Fennell & Grant, 2019; Gerbild et al, 2018).…”
Background: Norwegian social educator students' attitudes towards addressing sexual health are unknown, even if their future clients often have needs related to sexual issues. Purpose: To investigate social educator students' readiness to address sexual health in their future profession. Methods: In 2019, 213 social educator students (response rate 34%) responded to the Students' Attitudes towards addressing Sexual Health Extended online questionnaire. Results: Most of the social educator students felt comfortable and ready to address sexual health in their future profession, but thought they had insufficient competence and education concerning sexual health. There were gender and age differences when discussing sexual health among persons with intellectual disabilities. Conclusion: Despite most Norwegian social educator students feeling ready to address sexual health, they needed additional competences and education. Further research is needed concerning the effectiveness of educational interventions targeting competence in sexual health, to ensure sufficient support for clients in this field.
“…The positive attitudes, perceived readiness and education among social educator students may improve the currently missing professional support in relation to sexual issues for people with intellectual disabilities. However, previous studies have reported insufficient competences and education in the field of sexual health among professionals (Da glı et al, 2020;English et al, 2020;McDaniels & Fleming, 2016Powell et al, 2020;Remme, 2018;Wilson & Frawley, 2016). Research exploring the extent to which future social educators are able to include sexual health in their professional practice among people with intellectual disabilities is recommended.…”
Section: Differences Related To Age For Each Gendermentioning
confidence: 99%
“…There are studies showing insufficient readiness among students in health and welfare professions to address sexual health in their future profession (Areskoug Josefsson et al, 2016; Areskoug Josefsson & Fristedt, 2019; Areskoug Josefsson & Gard, 2015; Areskoug Josefsson, Rolander, et al, 2019; Ballan & Freyer, 2017; Felter, 2020), but none of these studies have included social educators focused on including attitudes towards persons living with intellectual disabilities, nor have they been performed in a Norwegian context. Other studies of students who are being educated to provide health advice for people with intellectual disabilities have reported a lack of competence in the field of sexual health (Ballan & Freyer, 2017; Dağlı et al, 2020; Felter, 2020; Fennell & Grant, 2019; McDaniels & Fleming, 2018), and have revealed misperceptions and stereotypical understanding of persons with intellectual disabilities (Ditchman et al, 2017; Grove et al, 2018; Kramers‐Olen, 2016). The students' attitudes and beliefs are based on their education, knowledge, and experiences (Esmail et al, 2010; Fennell & Grant, 2019; Gerbild et al, 2018).…”
Background: Norwegian social educator students' attitudes towards addressing sexual health are unknown, even if their future clients often have needs related to sexual issues. Purpose: To investigate social educator students' readiness to address sexual health in their future profession. Methods: In 2019, 213 social educator students (response rate 34%) responded to the Students' Attitudes towards addressing Sexual Health Extended online questionnaire. Results: Most of the social educator students felt comfortable and ready to address sexual health in their future profession, but thought they had insufficient competence and education concerning sexual health. There were gender and age differences when discussing sexual health among persons with intellectual disabilities. Conclusion: Despite most Norwegian social educator students feeling ready to address sexual health, they needed additional competences and education. Further research is needed concerning the effectiveness of educational interventions targeting competence in sexual health, to ensure sufficient support for clients in this field.
“…Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) encompasses any psychiatric problem or experiences in the individual and the couple which result in a loss of sexual desire, sexual arousal and orgasm and increased pain during intercourse [ 1 ]. This is a fairly common health problem which can negatively affect a woman’s quality of life [ 2 ]. Historically, research into FSD has been seriously neglected, and has only recently, over the last three decades, attracted more attention, unlike the studies into male sexual dysfunction, which date back to the early 20th century [ 3 ].…”
(1) Background: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) has a high prevalence globally, and perinatal factors favor FSD, especially in the postpartum period. The aim was to determine the prevalence and factors influencing FSD in the postpartum period; (2) Methods: An observational study carried out in three primary care centers in southern Spain, with women in the postpartum period who had a single low-risk birth. One hundred and seventeen women answered the Female Sexual Function questionnaire during the 4th month postpartum, between January 2020 and December 2021. Sociodemographic, obstetric, neonatal variables and level of self-esteem were analyzed. A multiple logistic regression model was carried out; (3) Results: 78.4% had high level of self-esteem. FSD prevalence was 89.7%. Factors related to FSD were having an instrumental vaginal delivery, women with university studies, and prenatal preparation. Maternal age ≥ 35, multiparity, pathological processes in the child, a medium–low level of self-esteem and newborn weight were associated with disorders in some of domains of sexual function; (4) Conclusions: FSD is highly prevalent in the postpartum period and is associated with preventable factors. A preventive approach by health professionals to these factors is essential. Health services should implement postpartum follow-up programs, which may coincide in time and place with newborn follow-up programs.
“… 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 recent study has shown that only 11% of health care students had knowledge of sexual health for persons with disabilities, and most of the students considered the topic to be overlooked in society. 32 Teaching students how to be prepared for their future profession is not only an issue of providing professional and theoretical knowledge; the students also need to learn how to implement the knowledge in practice to be able to perform the tasks included in their professional role. The teachers must understand and address sensitive topics at the level of understanding that the students must enhance the skills they will need in practice.…”
Background
Social educators have an important role in promoting and rehabilitating sexual health as they provide information, discuss, and support sexual health in daily life for persons living with impairments, intellectual disabilities, and complex needs.
Aim
The study aimed to assess the psychometrics of the Students´ Attitudes towards addressing Sexual Health Extended (SA-SH-Ext) questionnaire for social educator students.
Methods
A sample of 213 Norwegian social educator students was used to test internal consistency reliability and construct validity with explorative factor analysis.
Outcomes
Internal consistency reliability showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.906 and construct validity measured with explorative factor analysis showed good results with the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy (KMO) being high (0.929) and Bartlett´s test of sphericity being significant (P = .000).
Results
The SA-SH-Ext is reliable and valid for social educator students, however the psychometric assessment revealed that the domains of the SA-SH-Ext should be revised compared to the original SA-SH questionnaire.
Clinical implications
Measuring the effectiveness of sexual health education interventions is important and to have a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess future professionals’ attitudes towards addressing sexual health increases the ability to target specific client needs or knowledge gaps, such as addressing sexual health for persons with intellectual disabilities.
Strengths
and limitations: In comparison with previous studies of the original SA-SH, SA-SH-Ext has high reliability and validity. The current study was performed with classical test theory. Performing Rasch analysis may detect other psychometric issues, by improving precision and thereby providing a deeper understanding of both how to optimise a questionnaire and understand the results of a used questionnaire. Despite the response rate of 34%, the results are seen as valid considering the low correlation between response rate and validity and that the sample size was sufficient for the chosen psychometric tests.
Conclusion
The SA-SH-Ext is a valuable questionnaire for assessing the level of perceived preparedness among social educator students in addressing sexual health, a field often neglected in health and care.
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