Abstract:
This study examines the sexual and reproductive health issues of people living with physical disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. People with disabilities in Vietnam face may challenges; they are not expected to marry, earn money, or take care of themselves. People with physical disabilities are seen as asexual or lacking sexual ability and it is widely believed that women with physical disabilities cannot give birth. This means that the sexual and reproductive health needs are frequently overlooked or ignored by their family, teachers and health care providers. People with disabilities often lack knowledge and access to appropriate services and resources.
This study involved interviews with 20 people with disabilities (10 women and 10 men). The findings revealed that participants relied on friends and the media and their own experiences to learn about sexual and reproductive health. The physical disabilities of the study participants created problems for their sexual health, including issues with the sexual positions available to them. Reproductive health issues were exacerbated by their poor knowledge and by the poor attitudes of health care providers and the inaccessibility of some hospital environments. These issues created substantial barriers and some study participants avoided seeking health care. Generally participants had devised their own solutions to their sexual health problems.
This study suggests that there is considerable room for improving the sexual and reproductive health experiences of people with physical disability in Vietnam. Policies to address the stigma associated with physical disability, especially among educators and health service providers, are needed. The accessibility of health service environments also needs to be addressed so that people with disabilities can actively seek and obtain appropriate sexual and reproductive health care.
Link download: http://arrow.latrobe.edu.au:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/latrobe:42204
This study examines the sexual and reproductive health issues of people living with physical disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. People with disabilities in Vietnam face may challenges; they are not expected to marry, earn money, or take care of themselves. People with physical disabilities are seen as asexual or lacking sexual ability and it is widely believed that women with physical disabilities cannot give birth. This means that the sexual and reproductive health needs are frequently overlooked or ignored by their family, teachers and health care providers. People with disabilities often lack knowledge and access to appropriate services and resources.
This study involved interviews with 20 people with disabilities (10 women and 10 men). The findings revealed that participants relied on friends and the media and their own experiences to learn about sexual and reproductive health. The physical disabilities of the study participants created problems for their sexual health, including issues with the sexual positions available to them. Reproductive health issues were exacerbated by their poor knowledge and by the poor attitudes of health care providers and the inaccessibility of some hospital environments. These issues created substantial barriers and some study participants avoided seeking health care. Generally participants had devised their own solutions to their sexual health problems.
This study suggests that there is considerable room for improving the sexual and reproductive health experiences of people with physical disability in Vietnam. Policies to address the stigma associated with physical disability, especially among educators and health service providers, are needed. The accessibility of health service environments also needs to be addressed so that people with disabilities can actively seek and obtain appropriate sexual and reproductive health care.
Link download: http://arrow.latrobe.edu.au:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/latrobe:42204
