Parents' role in providing sexuality education to deaf adolescents in Mafubira sub- county, jinja District Uganda

Abstract

The research aimed at finding out whether parents provide sexuality education to their deaf adolescents. Focus was on the challenges they faced, the coping strategies they employed to overcome the challenges and to find out support systems in place where they could seek support. The study was guided by a qualitative research paradigm (approach) as well as a phenomenological research design. The study population consisted of male {N=4) {N=4) parents of deaf adolescents. The study sample was drawn using purposive technique. Dal(t collection was done by means of interview guide, as well as focus group discussions (FGD). The findings indicate that parents agree that they are a vital source of information on issues of sexuality. It is also found that parents feel shy to talk about sexuality education. Another finding indicates that some parents are ignorant of the subject of sexuality education due to have inadequate information concerning sexuality as a whole. One other finding reveals that many parents do not understand sexuality well enough to be comfortable to talk about it. A good number of parents were not sure if their strategies would bear fruit save for the one who could communicate to his deaf adolescent. They also reported limited support systems in providing sexuality education to their deaf adolescents. This called for recommendations to train pare111s not only in basic sign language but also signs that are channeled to sexuality education. To engage the expertise of knowledgeable and experienced people who are fluent signers to impart sexuality education to deaf adolescents using deaf friend(v methods. This may be a tool for a firm foundation of instilling confidence in parents who lack the skills.