%0 Journal Article
%T Perceptions of Deaf Youth about Their Vulnerability to Sexual and Reproductive Health Problems in Masvingo District, Zimbabwe
%A O Rusinga
%J African Journal of Reproductive Health
%D 2012
%I Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC)
%X This article examined the perceptions of deaf youth about their vulnerability to sexual and reproductive health problems in Masvingo District of Zimbabwe. A quasi-survey was employed to carry out the field study. Therefore, a snowball sampling procedure was used to identify the respondents mainly because the target population constitutes one of the hard-to-reach groups. A sample of 50 deaf youth aged between 15 ¨C 24 years was conveniently determined due to lack of comprehensive data of deaf population in the study area. Therefore, conclusions made in data analysis only referenced to the sampled population. Fifty questionnaires were administered among the deaf youth to collect quantitative data. Ten in-depth face-to-face interviews were carried out with deaf youth in order to qualify the magnitude of perceptions of deaf youth about their vulnerability to sexual and reproductive health problems. Sexual activity is taking place among the sampled deaf. The perceptions they had about vulnerability to sexual and reproductive health problems are mainly shaped by sexual socialization than their sensory conditions. Understanding the factors which influence the perceptions of deaf youth about sexual and reproductive health problems is significant mainly because the sexuality of people living with disabilities is poorly understood and neglected thereby putting them at risk of sexual and reproductive health problems as well as exposed to sexual violence. The study recommends that the government may adopt a human-rights approach to the provision of sexual and reproductive health services to ensure universal access information and inclusivity. Cet article a ¨¦tudi¨¦ des perceptions des jeunes sourds de leur vuln¨¦rabilit¨¦ aux probl¨¨mes de la sant¨¦ sexuelle et de reproduction dans le district de Masvingo au Zimbabwe. Nous avons men¨¦ l¡¯¨¦tude sur le terrain ¨¤ l¡¯aide d¡¯une quasi-enqu¨ºte. En cons¨¦quence, nous nous sommes servis d¡¯une proc¨¦dure bas¨¦e sur un ¨¦chantillon de boule de neige pour identifier les interview¨¦s, surtout parce que la population vis¨¦e constitue un des groupes qui ne sont pas facilement atteints. Un ¨¦chantillon de 50 jeunes sourds ag¨¦s de 15 ¨¤ 24 ans a ¨¦t¨¦ facilement d¨¦termin¨¦ ¨¤ cause d¡¯un manque de donn¨¦es compr¨¦hensives de la population sourde de la r¨¦gion. Pour cette raison, les conclusions ¨¤ la fin de l¡¯analyse des donn¨¦es ne concernent que la population ¨¦chantillonn¨¦e. Cinquante questionnaires ont ¨¦t¨¦ administr¨¦s aupr¨¨s des jeunes sourds afin de collecter des donn¨¦es quantitatives. Dix interviews en profondeur ont ¨¦t¨¦ r¨¦alis¨¦es aupr¨¨s des jeunes sourds afin de qualifier l¡¯¨¦tendue des perceptions des jeunes sourds par rapport ¨¤ leur vuln¨¦rabilit¨¦ aux probl¨¨mes de sant¨¦ sexuelle et de reproduction. Les activit¨¦s sexuelles se produisent parmi les sourds ¨¦chantillonn¨¦s. Les perceptions qu¡¯ils ont ¨¤ l¡¯¨¦gard de la vuln¨¦rabilit¨¦ aux probl¨¨mes de la sante sexuelle et de reproduction sont surtout fa onn¨¦es plus par la socialisation sexuelle que par leu
%U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajrh/article/view/77854