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'What works' to ensure persons with disabilities have access to sexual and reproductive health services

Itad
June 2020

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A growing body of evidence shows that people with disabilities have historically been denied their sexual and reproductive health rights, despite having the same sexual and reproductive health needs as people without disabilities, and continue to face many barriers to accessing these lifesaving services.

This evidence gap map, developed as part of the UK Department for International Development’s Women’s Integrated Sexual Reproductive Health (WISH) programme, collates evidence on ‘what works’ to enable access to sexual reproductive health services for persons with disabilities in low and middle-income countries.

Experiences of teaching sexual and reproductive health to students with intellectual disabilities

NELSON, Becky
PETTERSSON, Karen Odberg
EMMELIN, Maria
2020

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There is growing awareness and international commitment to improving sexual and reproductive health for persons with intellectual disabilities. Despite this, people with intellectual disabilities continue to face stigma and have limited access to sexual health education and information. This qualitative phenomenological study uses data from 10 interviews to describe what it means to teach sexual and reproductive health and rights to students with intellectual disabilities at special-needs schools in southern Sweden. The meaning of teachers’ experience is described through their efforts to ‘accept the challenge to coach special-needs students into adulthood’. Findings show that sexual and reproductive health in special-needs schools covers a broad range of topics and that the teacher must adapt to students’ shifting needs. They also reveal that teachers are motivated and have access to the necessary resources to teach sexual and reproductive health but feel they lack the skills to address students’ particular sexual health issues, including questions of culture and religion. Schools are the main source of sexual health information in Sweden and therefore play a crucial role in providing equal education and promoting public health.

‘We need “culture-bridges”: professionals’ experiences of sex education for pupils with intellectual disabilities in a multicultural society

LÖFGREN-MÅRTENSON, Charlotta
OUIS, Pernilla
2018

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This study aimed to explore how sex education in special schools in Sweden is influenced and challenged by the multicultural aspects of modern society. In particular, it sought to explore professio- nalls' experiences of sex education and of honour-related experiences among young people with intellectual disabilities. Data from five individual interviews and one focus groups with four profes- sionals were thematically analysed using sexual scripts as a theoretical framework. The results reveal an ambivalent honour-related script geared toward pupils with intellectual disabilities from cul- tural backgrounds differing from those of the Swedish mainstream. The provision of sex education, including information about hon- our-related experiences, is especially important because of these young people’s vulnerability; however, addressing the subject effectively is sensitive and complicated. Colleagues with different cultural backgrounds can act as ‘culture bridges’ for professionals who lack strategies, methods and materials. Increasing profes- sionals’ prerequisite qualifications (e.g. further education, supervision) and adopting autonomy-promoted conduct can empower pupils with intellectual disability to exercise autonomy over their sexuality outside their immediate cultural context.

Human Rights

www.macao-tz.org
December 2014

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Malezi AIDS Care Awareness Organization (MACAO) is a non-profit organization reaching out to neglected Indigenous people in Ngorongoro District, Arusha Region of Northern Tanzania.  Macao founded in 2003, Macao is a humanitarian organization that provides assistance to approximately 200,000 Indigenous Maasai community in Ngorongoro district for addressing needs of water and sanitation, food security, health Care Research, Education, Research environment, Maasai Traditional Research, Human Rights and sustainable economic development by strengthening their livelihoods.  In addition to responding to major relief situations, MACAO focuses on long-term community development through over 4 Area Development Project. We welcome the donors and volunteers to join us in this programs, we are wolking in ruro villages.

The challenge of HIV : social stigma or disability?

MCTIGUE, Peter
November 2010

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"The nature of discrimination against people living with HIV and with AIDS ('PLHA') is rooted in deeper stigmatisation than discrimination against other groups. Reasons for this include the association of HIV/AIDS with behaviours that may be considered socially unacceptable by many people. To combat such discrimination, HIV is deemed to be a 'disability' under the Equality Act 2010. Whilst this protection has been welcomed by various activists and policy groups within the field, it will be argued that the decision to classify HIV as a disability is an inadequate response to the unique and multi-faceted discrimination faced by PLHA. To achieve this this article will examine the history of the virus; current epidemiology within the UK; the extent to which HIV accords with traditional models of disability and the definition employed by the Equality Act 2010; and finally, the manner in which HIV is socially constructed and how this has compounded discrimination against PLHA"
5 Web JCLI

Talking about sex and relationships : the views of young people with learning disabilities

CHANGE
2009

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"This report talks about the Sex and Relationships project. This was a 3-year project that took place at CHANGE, a leading national organisation led by disabled people that is based in Leeds, in England, that fights for the rights of people with learning disabilities...The project found out about the views and experiences of young people with learning disabilities about sex and relationships"

Interagency list of essential medical devices for reproductive health

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
et al
2008

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This interagency list is a tool to support planning for the selection, quality assurance and procurement of medical devices to implement Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) interventions, which are defined as the "Essential care to women and their newborn during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period: up to six weeks after delivery." The objective is to propose an international consensus on a rational selection of essential medical devices for reproductive health according to their public health relevance based on efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness. Published by the WHO on behalf of John Snow Inc., PATH, Population Action International, United Nations Population Fund, and the World Bank, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund and Medecins Sans Frontieres. The WHO and partnering organisations plan to update this list every two years

The sexual heath needs of young people with learning disabilities

FRASER, Shirley
SIM, Judith
2007

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This briefing paper summarises the key findings from an evidence review on the sexual health and wellbeing of young people with learning disabilities. The review assimilates various forms of evidence, including the voices of young people themselves and emerging findings from practice. It also identifies a number of potential future actions that will help ensure that sexual health services and sex and relationships education are better able to meet the needs of young people with learning disabilities, as well as those of their parents and the professionals that support them

Childcare and early childhood development programmes and policies : their relationship to eradicating child poverty

PENN, Helen
June 2004

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The paper explores paradigms, arguments and evidence on which international agencies draw in discussing early childhood development (ECD). These include assumptions about poverty and the role of ECD in reducing poverty, assumptions about ‘the robustness’ of ECD and the contexts in which ECD takes place. Two case studies, one from Swaziland and one from Kazakhstan are used to explore strengths and limitations. The paper concludes that almost all the evidence for the effectiveness of ECD in determining cognitive, social and economic outcomes is drawn either directly from the North, particularly from the USA, or relies on assumptions drawn from work carried out in the North as a basis for recommendations in the South. The paper points out that ECD may be a useful form of practical relief to mitigate childhood poverty in particular circumstances and this could include children affected by HIV/AIDS. There is a section on page 35 on early childhood development and HIV/AIDs. Other vulnerable children are noted as those with time poor mothers and those in situations of war and conflict

Emerging challenges and opportunities in drug registration and regulation in developing countries

HILL, Suzanne
JOHNSON, Kent
May 2004

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This study describes current drug regulation and registration processes in selected countries, in order to understand how they affect the quality and availability of medicines in developing countries. It puts forward policy recommendations as to how systems can more efficiently allow appropriate quality drugs to be marketed and examines the emerging challenges and requirements posed by compulsory licensing, drugs for neglected diseases, anti-retroviral (ARV) and anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs

Health and social wellbeing : women and disability

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY NORTHERN IRELAND
2004

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Research by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland highlights that many disabled women have particular difficulty in accessing key services such as reproductive health care and screening. This overview decribes issues faced by disabled women, especially in the areas of sexual and reproductive health ,and provides government solutions to solve these issues
Inequalities and Unfair Access Issues Emerging from the DHSSPS (2004) "Equality and Inequalities in Health and Social Care: A Statistical Overview" Report

UK AIDS aid : an analysis of DFID HIV/AIDS expenditure

JANJUA, Harinder
November 2003

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This report collates available evidence to determine how much the UK government is currently spending on HIV/AIDS in developing countries and countries in transition. It points out that a desire to see HIV/AIDS mainstreamed within development work is inconsistent with a desire for clear vertical budget lines. It makes recommendations for future campaign demands and for DFID's statements on its spending

UK opinion leaders : understanding their views about sexual and reproductive health rights in developing countries

EKONG, Julia
PORKSEN, Julie
THOMAS, Diana
November 2003

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Report of research into the views of opinion leaders in the UK about sexual and reproductive health in developing countries. The results of the research show that there is a clear opportunity for those working in the sexual and reproductive health sector and broader development arena to engage and involve UK opinion leaders with developing world issues

A challenge to make more effective use of scarce resources | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine : annual report 2002-2003

LSTM
2003

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This page contain information on the Malaria Knowledge Programme at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. The page notes the work carried out by the VHA on developing a framework that can be used to identify cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approaches to vulnerability to malaria, TB and HIV. It shows that few resources are being put into developing appropriate, cheap and accurate tools for malaria diagnosis. Evidence shows that what is needed is effective district laboratory services. It also mentions the Gates Malaria Partnership, which has supported a radio project in the Gambia. It is called ‘Bolonghodala’ which means ‘By the Riverside’. It is a radio drama set in a fictional but typical rural village and combines stories about people’s lives with malaria prevention

Gendering prevention practices : a practical guide to working with gender in sexual safety and HIV/AIDS awareness education

LEWIS, Jill
2003

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This manual lays out eight sessions, each with an array of diverse learning activities, for capacity building to help participants grasp the implications of working with gender in HIV prevention. The session themes are: Perceptions of gender, Ways of Understanding Gender, Key aspects of Gender for HIV prevention, Sex as a Gendered Activity, Gender and HIV, Embodying Change, A Sense of Working Together, Reviewing Gender issues in Context

The outcomes of teenage motherhood in Europe

BERTHOUD, Richard
ROBSON, Karen
July 2001

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This paper analyses the current positions of women whose first child was born when they were teenagers, across 13 countries in the European Union. Outcomes considered include educational attainment, family structure, family employment and household income. Teenage mothers were disadvantaged in all countries, but the severity of their position varied substantially between countries

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