Sexual Risk Behaviors of Young Adults with LD and the Need for HIV/AIDS Education

Abstract

AIDS has become a leading cause of death among youth and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. Given that there is no known cure for AIDS, effective and comprehensive health education is the strongest weapon available to prevent the spread of this deadly disease. The purpose of this exploratory study was to generate information that could be used to highlight the critical need to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive education for students with disabilities. Eighty-eight young adults with learning disabilities were recruited to complete a questionnaire. Fifty-one percent of the study participants reported that in high school they had engaged in behaviors that would put them at risk of contracting HIV and/or AIDS. Implications for future practice and research are discussed.

HIV/AIDS and disability in Southern Africa: a review of relevant literature

“…This, however, is a myth and various international studies report persons with physical disabilities [39][40][41], intellectual or learning disabilities [42,43], psychiatric disabilities [44], visual disabilities (for example a study conducted in South Africa [45]), hearing disabilities [46] and chronic illness [47], as being as sexually active as persons without disabilities. Sexual activity for persons with disabilities also includes men with disabilities who have sex with men [48][49][50].…”

“…International studies have shown that many people with disabilities do not always wear condoms during sex [40][41][42]44,47,62]. In Uganda, Mulindwa [15] found that less than a quarter of men with disabilities and only 10% of women with disabilities were using condoms during sex.…”

HIV issues and people with disabilities: A review and agenda for research

“…Studies with people with disabilities or staff and key informants report relatively high rates of unsafe sex and other risk behaviours including substance use, transactional sex, and reported incidence of previous sexually transmitted diseases (Blanchett, 2000;Brown et al, 1997;Cambridge, 1996;Carey et al, 1997;Carey et al, 1999;Carey et al, 2001;Carey et al, 2004a;Chandra et al, 2003;Choquet et al, 1997;Chopra et al, 1998;Chuang & Atkinson, 1996;Collins et al, 2008a;Collins et al, 2008b;Davidson et al, 2001;Devieux et al, 2007;Gordon et al, 1999;Grassi et al, 1999a;Grassi et al, 1999b;Kalichman et al, 1994;Katz et al, 1994;Kelly et al, 1992; M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 14 1995; Maart & Jelsma, 2010;Meade & Sikkema, 2007;Meade & Sikkema, 2005;Menon & Pomerantz, 1997;Menon et al, 1994;Myer et al, 2009;Ogunsemi et al, 2006;Olaleye et al, 2007;Otto-Salaj et al, 1998;Randolph et al, 2009;Rohleder, 2010;Smit et al, 2006;Susser et al, 1995;Thompson, 1994;Touko et al, 2010;Vanable et al, 2007;Weinhardt et al, 1998;Walkup et al, 1999).…”

Comparing Sexual Risk Behaviors Between Sexual Minority Men Living With and Without a Chronic Illness/Disability (CID)

“…It is possible that the stigma and stress attached to a CID, or the intersection of possessing a marginalized sexual identity in conjunction with a CID, are related to a propensity to engage in more risky sexual behaviors. Furthermore, because there are fewer safe-sex educational opportunities for persons with disabilities and sexual minorities, it is possible that they receive inadequate or deficient information about safe sexual practices [1,2].…”

“…Persons living with CID conditions are at risk for encountering compromised sexual health outcomes, such as vulnerability to sexual abuse, sexual assault [8,10], and fewer sexual educational interventions [1,2]. Disability scholars have also indicated that individuals living with CID conditions may be engaging in risky sexual behaviors.…”