A deviation too many? Healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes concerning patients with intellectual disability disrupting norms regarding sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Issue 6 (12th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sommarö, Susanna; Andersson, Agneta; Skagerström, Janna
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities. Volume 33:Issue 6(2020:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1199
• Page End: 1209
• Publication Date: 2020-04-12
• Subjects: habilitation -- healthcare professional -- heteronormativity -- intellectual disability -- LGBTQ -- thematic analysis; Learning disabilities -- Periodicals; Mental retardation -- Periodicals; Learning disabled -- Periodicals; People with mental disabilities -- Periodicals; 616.85880072
• DOI: 10.1111/jar.12739
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-2322

Abstract

Abstract: Background: People with intellectual disability (ID) have few role models for sexual expression and behaviour, and those who identify as LGBTQ experience dual marginalization. The aim of this study is to explore knowledge and attitudes concerning patients with both ID and norm‐breaking sexuality and/or gender identity among healthcare professionals in habilitation centres. Method: Data were collected from four focus group interviews that included 19 healthcare professionals from child and adult teams at two Swedish habilitation centres. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified as follows: heteronormative treatment in health care, barriers for inclusion and possibilities for inclusion. Conclusions: Norm‐breaking sexuality and gender identity are still relatively invisible in habilitation centres. People with ID are still predominately desexualized and perceptions regarding their sexuality are lagging behind the rest of society. Conditions that allow for more LGBTQ‐affirmative practice were described by the teams that have undergone LGBTQ training.