Copyright Holder: This Article is Licensed Under:
© Luluk Fauziyah et al. (2023)
Corresponding author’s email: lulukfauziyah.marsudi@gmail.com.com
International Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship, Social Science and Humanities, Specific Issue: Vol. 6 No. 1 (2023)
https://doi.org/10.31098/ijmesh.v6i1.1350
Sexual Health Education Among Autism Adolescents in Special Schools
Luluk Fauziyah
1*
, Munawir Yusuf
2
, Joko Yuwono
3
1,2,3
Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia
Received : February 10, 2023 Revised : May 2, 2023 Accepted : May 5, 2023 Online : May 6, 2023
Abstract
Every learner, including those with autism, must be taught about sexual health education. Teachers have a
crucial role to play in educating autistic adolescents about sexual health while they are in school. However,
many teachers face confusion while teaching sexual education to autistic adolescent students. This research
aims to describe the problem of sexual health education in autistic adolescents and the need for learning
media to teach sexual health education to autistic adolescents in Special Schools. This study used a
qualitative approach. Data was collected through interviews with teachers of autistic students in Special
Schools. This research was conducted in 3 (three) special schools in Solo Raya, Indonesia: SLB A, SLB B, and
SLB C. The subjects in this study were three teachers of autistic students. The research instrument used
interviews with teachers regarding sexual health education issues and the need for instructional media to
teach sexual education. The results of the study show that there was a main problem regarding teaching
sexual education for autistic students; teachers with autistic adolescents experience confusion in teaching
sexual education for autistic adolescents because there are no props or media that are suitable for autistic
characteristics. Autism students more easily accept learning using visual-based media. This research's
limitation is the sample, which only uses a small sample. This research was only conducted on teachers of
autistic students in the Special Schools setting. Based on previous research on sexual education aimed at
students with disabilities in general, the novelty of this study is to describe the problems of sexual education
in autism students in the adolescent age category.
Keywords: Sexual Health Education; Autism Adolescents; Special School
INTRODUCTION
Knowledge about reproductive health and sexuality education is important to be taught to
every student. The World Health Organization (WHO) sees that sexual health is part of human
development and also a human right, and if sexual health can be achieved, then "the sexual rights
of all people must be respected, protected and fulfilled" (Joseph, 2022). Reproductive health is
defined as a condition in which humans can enjoy their sexual life and are able to carry out
reproductive functions and processes healthily and safely (United Nations Population Funds,
2022). Sexual education begins at birth when parents bathe, change diapers, hold and hug their
children and continues when children are just learning to walk, and preschool age when parents
dress, toilet-train and teach their children about their body parts (Stein et al., 2018).
Sexual education should aspire to provide an understanding of the implementation of their
human rights (which includes respect for gender diversity and equality), promote gender-just
norms, and critically examine gender (gender issues) (Mukoro, 2021). All education, including sex
education, is connected to the environment and culture and focuses on the environment and
culture itself (Mukoro, 2017). All stakeholders in educational institutions, including students,
teachers, and school administrators, exist in various contextual sexual ethos, and this is used to
regulate policies and behavior (Preston, 2016). Sexual education in schools must focus on the
school environment itself and involve all members of the school.
These problems bring us to awareness of the importance of reproductive health education
for adolescents with disabilities. Inappropriate sexual behavior is caused by the lack of
understanding of normal puberty, lack of appropriate sex education, medications, and problems
associated with ASD (Beddows & Brooks, 2016). Along with all the limitations, they still have to
Research Paper