Attitudes of Indonesian health science undergraduates toward sexuality in individuals with intellectual disabilities

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104082
• Publication Date: 2021-09-07T03:00:08Z
• Authors: Desiyana Evlyn; Ferdy Kurniawan C...; Hardian; Annastasia Ediati; Agustini Utari; Tri Indah Winarni
• Keywords: Male; Sexual Behavior; 4. Education; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Attitude; Indonesia; Intellectual Disability; Humans; Female; Students; 0305 other medical science; Sexuality

Sexuality is a fundamental part of the lives of human beings. However, a significant inequality exists regarding the right of an individual with intellectual disabilities.This study aimed to explore the attitudes of undergraduate health science students toward sexuality in individuals with intellectual disability (ID) in Indonesia.A cross-sectional study was performed using the Indonesian version of Attitudes toward Sexuality Questionnaires in Intellectual Disability (ASQ-ID). This study involved 617 students in medical, psychology, and public health undergraduate programs.Among all participants (n = 617, male = 137, female = 480), the attitude towards self-control was found a significant difference among all three health science undergraduates (p = .01). The psychology students had the most favorable attitudes toward self-control compared to other students. The difference was found between medical and public health students and between public health and psychology students with p = .009 and p = .011, respectively. Religion was significantly affected for the non-reproductive sexual behavior subscale (p = .038). The religion was found to have significant effect on the attitude towards nonreproductive sexual behavior subscale (p = .038).Results show that Indonesian undergraduate students majoring in the health sciences have varying attitudes toward sexuality in individuals with ID. Medical and psychology students have more favorable attitudes toward self-control, whereas public health students have less favorable attitudes. Their religion influencing the attitudes toward nonreproductive sexual behavior.