Fysiska funktionsnedsättningar och sexualitet, hur pratar vi om det? : En kvalitativ studie om hur professionella inom socialt arbete jobbar med sexualitet och sexuell hälsa i relation till personer med fysiska funktionsnedsättningar

Sammanfattning

People with physical disabilities (PWPD) have historically faced discrimination, been treated as subordinate to non-disabled people and experienced exclusion from social and societal contexts. Their sexuality and sexual health have been ignored and precieved as asexual. Today disability social work is largely based on the Social Model, which emphasizes PWPD subjective experiences in relation to social interaction. However, legal phrasings and policy documents on PWPD sexual and reproductive rights are often vauge and insufficiently defined. Consequently, professionals must interpret these frameworks and use their discretion to develop methods in practice. This study explores how social work professionals seek to understand, adress and make sexuality and sexual health visible in relation to PWPD. The methodological approach of this study is based on four semi-structured qualitative interviews. Through a thematic analysis three main themes were identified; 1) Approaches to organizational and operational knowledge and competence development; 2) Approaches to make sexuality and sexual health visible in conversations with PWPD and; 3) Factors that enable, challange or hinder this work in practice. Findings show that organizations promote professional development and education, buliding of alliances are the main strategy in conversations and finally, results that points to societal and structural barriers remaining the major obstacle for PWPD. Respect and critical reflections on societal normative attitudes toward PWPD and sexuality were proven to be enabling. Continued professional commitment is needed. Participant professionals emphasized that greater attention to these issues is essential in social work to promote holistc care and improve PWPD well-being and quality of life.