OpenLB
Open Library of Bioscience
Advanced Search
Journal of clinical nursing
Dec 22, 2024;

'Silent Needs and Hidden Desires': Nurses' Perceptions of Sexual Healthcare for People With Physical and/or Intellectual Disabilities.

José Granero-Molina, Laura Rodríguez Sastre, María Del Mar Jiménez-Lasserrotte, Matías Correa-Casado, Alba Fernández-Férez, Isabel María Fernández-Medina
Author Information
  1. José Granero-Molina: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, Almería, Spain. ORCID
  2. Laura Rodríguez Sastre: Psychology and Sexology Center, Madrid, Spain.
  3. María Del Mar Jiménez-Lasserrotte: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, Almería, Spain. ORCID
  4. Matías Correa-Casado: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.
  5. Alba Fernández-Férez: Andalusian Health Service, Almería, Spain.
  6. Isabel María Fernández-Medina: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, Almería, Spain. ORCID
PMID: 39710603 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.17635

Abstract

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To describe nurses' perceptions of sexual healthcare for people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.
BACKGROUND: Nurses are responsible for meeting the fundamental needs of people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, yet there are still issues when it comes to their sexuality. Sexual assistants can help people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities to meet their sexual needs, but little is known about these invisible, unregulated care providers.
DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive study.
METHODS: The study was conducted in a region of southern Spain. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 22 nurses aged 23-41 years, who had provided care to people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. The participants' experiences were explored through semi-structured interviews conducted between November 2022 and May 2023.
FINDINGS: Three main themes were extracted from the data analysis: (1) the need to increase the visibility of people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities sexuality, (2) sexual assistance: a conspiracy of silence and (3) defining the role of sexual assistants.
CONCLUSION: According to the nurses, sexual assistants are still unregulated care providers who carry out their work in anonymity. Sexual assistants support people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities in the whole spectrum of their sexuality; in addition to sexual pleasure, they provide opportunities for bonding, affection, physical contact, stimulation or caressing. Nurses are committed to normalising the role of sexual assistants and regulating their services within a sound legal framework. Health professionals need to include specific training on sexual assistance in their training programmes.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Understanding how nurses perceive the sexual needs of people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, as well as the role of sexual assistants, who could improve this group of people's quality of life by providing them care in different healthcare settings. No Patient or Public Contribution.

Keywords

disability qualitative research sexual assistance sexuality

References

  1. Addlakha, R., J. Price, and S. Heidari. 2017. “Disability and Sexuality: Claiming Sexual and Reproductive Rights.” Reproductive Health Matters 25, no. 50: 4–9.
  2. Bahner, J. 2013. “The Power of Discretion and the Discretion of Power: Personal Assistants and Sexual Facilitation in Disability Services.” Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion 4, no. 1: 1–23.
  3. Bahner, J. 2015. “Sexual Professionalism: For Whom? The Case of Sexual Facilitation in Swedish Personal Assistance Services.” Disability & Society 30, no. 5: 788–801.
  4. Benoit, C., A. Mellor, and Z. Premji. 2023. “Access to Sexual Rights for People Living With Disabilities: Assumptions, Evidence, and Policy Outcomes.” Archives of Sexual Behavior 52, no. 8: 3201–3255.
  5. Braun, V., and V. Clarke. 2021. Thematic Analysis a Practical Guide. London, UK: SAGE.
  6. Bryant, C., T. Aplin, and J. Setchell. 2022. “Sexuality Support After Spinal Cord Injury: What Is Provided in Australian Practice Settings?” Sexuality and Disability 40, no. 3: 409–423.
  7. Casalini, B. 2013. “Disabilità, Immaginazione e Cittadinanza Sessuale.” Etica Politica 15, no. 2: 301–320.
  8. Crehan, E. T. 2023. “Preparing for a Sex‐Positive Future Where Sexual Assistance Is a Possibility.” Archives of Sexual Behavior 52, no. 8: 3263–3266.
  9. Doyle, L., C. McCabe, B. Keogh, A. Brady, and M. McCann. 2020. “An Overview of the Qualitative Descriptive Design Within Nursing Research.” Journal of Research in Nursing 25, no. 5: 443–455.
  10. Erikson, L. 2016. “Transforming Cultures of (Un)desirability: Creating Cultures of Resistance.” Graduate Journal of Social Science 12, no. 1: 11–22.
  11. Gammino, G. R., E. Faccio, and S. Cipolletta. 2016. “Sexual Assistance in Italy: An Explorative Study on the Opinions of People With Disabilities and Would‐Be Assistants.” Sexuality and Disability 34: 157–170.
  12. García‐Santesmases, A. 2019. “Luces, Cámara y Erección: La Asistencia Sexual a Escena.” ENCRUCIJADAS. Revista Crítica de Ciencias Sociales 17: 1–20.
  13. García‐Santesmases, A., and C. de Branco. 2016. “Fantasmas y Fantasías: Controversias Sobre la Asistencia Sexual Para Personas Con Diversidad Functional.” Pedagogia i Treball Social. Revista de Ciències Socials Aplicades 5, no. 1: 3–34.
  14. Garofalo, G. 2019. “Disability Rights Meet Sex Workers' Rights: The Making of Sexual Assistance in Europe.” Sexuality Research & Social Policy 16: 214–226.
  15. Girard, M., M. T. Muñoz Sastre, and E. Mullet. 2019. “Mapping French People's Views Regarding Sexual Assistance to People With Physical Disabilities.” Sexuality and Disability 37: 109–121.
  16. Gutiérrez‐Bermejo, B., and C. Jenaro. 2022. “Sexual Assistance for People With Intellectual Disabilities: Proposal for a Service Delivery Model.” Sexuality and Disability 40: 347–362.
  17. Holland‐Hall, C., and E. H. Quint. 2017. “Sexuality and Disability in Adolescents.” Pediatric Clinics of North America 64, no. 2: 435–449.
  18. Kattari, S. K. 2015. ““Getting It”: Identity and Sexual Communication for Sexual and Gender Minorities With Physical Disabilities.” Sexuality & Culture 19: 882–899.
  19. Kim, H., J. S. Sefcik, and C. Bradway. 2017. “Characteristics of Qualitative Descriptive Studies: A Systematic Review.” Research in Nursing and Health 40: 23–42.
  20. Kismödi, E., E. Corona, E. Maticka‐Tyndale, E. Rubio‐Aurioles, and E. Eli Coleman. 2017. “Sexual Rights as Human Rights: A Guide for the WAS Declaration of Sexual Rights.” International Journal of Sexual Health 29, no. 5: 1–92.
  21. Kurt, A., E. Cirban Ekrem, B. Akkoç, and F. Dinç. 2023. “Barriers Experienced by Nurses in Communication for Sexual Health Education for Children With Intellectual Disability: A Qualitative Study.” International Journal of Developmental Disabilities 70, no. 2: 306–314.
  22. Limoncin, E., D. Galli, G. Ciocca, et al. 2014. “The Psychosexual Profile of Sexual Assistants: An Internet‐Based Explorative Study.” PLoS One 9, no. 2: e98413.
  23. Lincoln, Y. S., and E. G. Guba. 1985. Naturalistic Inquiry, 289–331. Thousand Oaks: SAGE.
  24. Mannino, G., S. Giunta, and G. Fiura. 2017. “Psychodynamics of the Sexual Assistance for Individuals With Disability.” Sexuality and Disability 35: 495–506.
  25. Martínez, J., and E. Verot. 2023. “Nurses' and Auxiliary Nurses' Beliefs and Attitudes Regarding the Sexual Health of Patients With Severe Mental Illness: A Qualitative Study.” Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 31: 354–363. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12989.
  26. Matin, B. K., M. Ballan, F. Darabi, A. K. Karyani, M. Soofi, and S. Soltani. 2021. “Sexual Health Concerns in Women With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review in Qualitative Studies.” BMC Public Health 21: 1965.
  27. Miller, A. M., E. Kismödi, J. Cottingham, and S. Gruskin. 2015. “Sexual Rights as Human Rights: A Guide to Authoritative Sources and Principles for Applying Human Rights to Sexuality and Sexual Health.” Reproductive Health Matters 23, no. 46: 16–30.
  28. Morales, E., F. Quattrini, C. Auger, and V. Gauthier. 2020. “What Sexual Assistants Want and Need: Creating a Toolkit and New Solutions to Help Them Better Perform Their Work With Individuals With Disabilities.” Sexuality and Disability 38, no. 1: 19–29.
  29. Romero‐Galisteo, R. P., M. Á. Valverde‐Martínez, I. M. Fernández‐Medina, A. E. Cortés‐Rodríguez, H. García‐López, and S. Nunez‐Nagy. 2023. “Sexuality in People With Disabilities: A Qualitative Study of physiotherapists' Perceptions.” Sexuality Research & Social Policy 20, no. 4: 1528–1536.
  30. Shakespeare, T., and S. Richardson. 2018. “The Sexual Politics of Disability, Twenty Years on.” Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research 20, no. 1: 82–91.
  31. Tong, A., P. Sainsbury, and J. Craig. 2007. “Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ): A 32‐Item Checklist for Interviews and Focus Groups.” International Journal for Quality in Health Care 19, no. 6: 349–357.
  32. UN (United Nations). 2008. “Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities.” https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Ch_IV_15.pdf.
  33. Veronika, T., K. Alena, and O. Stanislav. 2021. “Public Discourse of Sexual Assistance in The Czech Republic.” Sexuality and Disability 39: 707–713.
  34. WHO (World Health Organization). 2010. “Sexual Health and Well‐Being.” https://www.who.int/teams/sexual‐and‐reproductive‐health‐and‐research‐(srh)/areas‐of‐work/sexual‐health.
  35. WHO (World Health Organization). 2023. “Disability.” https://www.who.int/news‐room/fact‐sheets/detail/disability‐and‐health.
  36. Williams, F., G. Scott, and A. McKechanie. 2014. “Sexual Health Services and Support: The Views of Younger Adults With Intellectual Disability.” Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability 39, no. 2: 147–156.
  37. Wotton, R., and S. Isbister. 2017. “Similarities and Differences Between Sexual Surrogacy, Sex Work and Facilitated Sexual Assistance.” Journal of Sexual Medicine 14: e252–e253.

Grants

  1. /the Research Group CTS-451, University of Almería.
Journal Article

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0sexualphysicaland/orpeopleintellectualdisabilitiesassistantssexualitycareneedsSexualnursesrolehealthcareNursesstillunregulatedprovidersstudyconductedneedtrainingassistanceAIMANDOBJECTIVES:describenurses'perceptionsBACKGROUND:responsiblemeetingfundamentalyetissuescomescanhelpmeetlittleknowninvisibleDESIGN:QualitativedescriptiveMETHODS:regionsouthernSpainConveniencesamplingusedrecruit22aged23-41 yearsprovidedparticipants'experiencesexploredsemi-structuredinterviewsNovember2022May2023FINDINGS:Threemainthemesextracteddataanalysis:1increasevisibility2assistance:conspiracysilence3definingCONCLUSION:AccordingcarryworkanonymitysupportwholespectrumadditionpleasureprovideopportunitiesbondingaffectioncontactstimulationcaressingcommittednormalisingregulatingserviceswithinsoundlegalframeworkHealthprofessionalsincludespecificprogrammesRELEVANCETOCLINICALPRACTICE:Understandingperceivewellimprovegrouppeople'squalitylifeprovidingdifferentsettingsPatientPublicContribution'SilentNeedsHiddenDesires':Nurses'PerceptionsHealthcarePeoplePhysicalIntellectualDisabilitiesdisabilityqualitativeresearch

Similar Articles

Cited By