Abstract
Adolescents with disability like other adolescents engage in sexual relationship to express their sexuality without adequate knowledge and skill to cope with the consequences of their actions. A Cross sectional study conducted among 140 adolescents with physical disabilities in four handicapped schools in Osun state South West, Nigeria had 56.4 % male and 43.6 % female respondents. Mean age is 16 years. Poor knowledge of sexuality issues such as: unprotected sex, teenage pregnancy, STIs/HIV/AIDS and contraceptive awareness were evident. Age of sexual debut is 15 years, 54.6 % had sexual intercourse, and commonest source of sexuality information is friend, while the most preferred source is parents who are ill-equipped to play their role as educators. 70.1 % had at least one boy/girlfriend and 29.9 % had multiple sexual partners at a time and engage in multiple sexual relationships. 12.8 % do not take any action to prevent pregnancy, those who do, use male condom. 24.6 % have been forced into sex by different categories of persons with different outcomes; teenage pregnancy, abortion and life birth. A few exchange sex for gifts from strangers. No access to HIV counseling and testing, hence treatment of HIV among this group is difficult and thus posing significant public health concern.
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Oladunni, T.M. Sexual Behavior and Practices Among Adolescents with Disabilities in Southwest Nigeria. Sex Disabil 30, 289–299 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-012-9270-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-012-9270-8