Sexuality of the Person with Intellectual Disability as Health Education Practice

Abstract

The person with mental disabilities suffer trouble dealing with themes geared to sexuality, as well as parents and health professionals feel insecure to discuss this matter. Objective: Report on lived experience of the person with intellectual disabilities and their families about sexuality in the context of health education. Method: An exploratory and descriptive study with approach anchored in the experience report. The study was conducted with users, parents and health professionals from an institution of care of people with a disability in the municipality of Santa Cruz-RN. The research was developed in the context of practical discipline of Primary Care and Family Health of undergraduate nursing degree from the Universidade federal do Rio Grande do Norte. It was used wheels of conversations and nursing consultations that allowed individual and collective reports. Results: Previous knowledge concerning sexuality were rescued, allowing users to identify and reflect on stereotypes involving male and female behavior. The wheels of conversations and dynamic with parents and health professionals allowed to note: weaknesses of professionals to deal with issues that permeate the lives of people with disability intelecutal; as well as feelings and conceptions encompassing parents to discuss this theme. Conclusion: Health education conducted favored to minimize the lack of knowledge and approach of health professionals to work with the theme of sexuality existent in the institution.