Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...
Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...
Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
PAGE 137<br />
be perceived as a risk factor for unwanted pregnancy, causing greater<br />
use <strong>of</strong> surgical methods to prevent pregnancy.<br />
4.2.3 Self-esteem<br />
Women with intellectual disability face challenges with issues <strong>of</strong> selfesteem,<br />
self-c<strong>on</strong>cept <strong>and</strong> body image, for instance as the result <strong>of</strong> the<br />
physical characteristics <strong>of</strong> syndromes (McCarr<strong>on</strong> & Kathryn Pekala<br />
Service, 2002). In order to provide appropriate educati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> counselling<br />
for the woman <strong>and</strong> her support network, nurses <strong>and</strong> other healthcare<br />
providers need to have knowledge about the health needs <strong>and</strong> factors<br />
that affect coping (Kagan-Krieger, 2001).<br />
Support to People with an Intellectual Disability who are<br />
<strong>Accessible</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Appropriate</strong> <strong>of</strong> Provisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Review</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Literature</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Experiencing Crisis Pregnancy<br />
4.2.4 Offsetting negative attitudes<br />
Dix<strong>on</strong> (1996) notes that because <strong>of</strong> negative attitudes to women with<br />
intellectual disability becoming pregnant <strong>and</strong> taking <strong>on</strong> the role <strong>of</strong><br />
mother, it is important that women with intellectual disability feel valued<br />
<strong>and</strong> that their self-esteem is maintained throughout their interacti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
with services, so as to optimise their ability to embrace motherhood.<br />
4.3 Sex educati<strong>on</strong> for people with intellectual disability<br />
It is now generally accepted that appropriate educati<strong>on</strong> with regard to<br />
issues <strong>of</strong> sexuality, tailored to the individual’s unique learning style, can<br />
be effectively utilised in the management <strong>of</strong> fertility <strong>and</strong> menstruati<strong>on</strong><br />
difficulties (Sulpizi, 1996; Prevatt, 1998). McCarthy (1999) asserts that<br />
the aim <strong>of</strong> sexuality policies <strong>and</strong> guidelines should always be to support<br />
people with learning disabilities in their sexual lives, <strong>and</strong> not to dissuade<br />
them from having sex. The <strong>on</strong>ly justificati<strong>on</strong>, she c<strong>on</strong>tends, for dissuading<br />
people from having sex is if the risks they pose to themselves or others<br />
are very serious <strong>and</strong> cannot be lessened in any other way. McCarthy<br />
has emphasised the following points in relati<strong>on</strong> to the provisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> sex<br />
educati<strong>on</strong> for women with learning disabilities:<br />
• Emphasis needs to be placed <strong>on</strong> self-esteem <strong>and</strong> assertiveness<br />
work for women with learning disabilities; this is not just in<br />
relati<strong>on</strong> to sexual matters but also more generally in their lives.<br />
(This point stems from research she c<strong>on</strong>ducted dem<strong>on</strong>strating<br />
that 49 per cent <strong>of</strong> women (n=65) had had sex with a man or men<br />
without really wanting or enjoying it in its own right, i.e. they