EXPLORING THE UNDERSTANDING OF SEXUAL EDUCATION IN ADOLESCENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

Abstract The importance of understanding sexual education among teenagers cannot be denied, but how teenagers with intellectual disabilities process this information is an aspect that is often overlooked. This research aims to deepen the understanding of sexual education for adolescents with intellectual disabilities, explore the challenges they may face, and offer insights that can enrich the practice of inclusive sexual education. The results of the study concluded that (1) Knowledge of sex education for each teenager with intellectual disabilities in this study was included in the good category. This is seen based on awareness of physical or biological changes in oneself in the form of menstrual/menstrual experiences, changes in body posture, growth of fur (hair), and emotions or psychology. They also know about norms in interacting with the opposite sex, knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), (2) Teenagers with intellectual disabilities receive knowledge about sex education from various media, namely from parents, social media such as Instagram, Google, teachers in learning activities in class, and counseling from the nearest Community Health Center, (3) The sexual knowledge needs expected by teenagers with intellectual disabilities are also not much different from normal teenagers, namely the need for information on healthy relationships, approaches before marriage, and child care (parenting).