@article{
author = "Jablan, Branka and Sjeničić, Marta",
year = "2021",
abstract = "Sexuality represents one of the basic dimensions of human existence,
which is channelled through sexual and gender identification and role,
sexual orientation, eroticism, emotional commitment, satisfaction, and
reproduction. Sexuality is also linked to many significant health problems,
especially in the area of reproductive and sexual health. Sexual health is
the condition of physical, emotional, mental, and social wellbeing that is
linked with sexuality. Knowledge about sexual health, contraception and
selection of contraceptives, and the risk of sexually transmittable diseases
is not only relevant for individuals’ sexuality; it’s also important for encouraging the use of health services and other forms of support that are necessary to protect youth from sexually transmittable diseases and the
maintenance of sexual and reproductive health.
When it comes to sexuality and care of reproductive and sexual health,
some groups are especially vulnerable. Bearing in mind the specific conditions women with disabilities grow up in and their dependence on assistance and support from other people, satisfying their needs for partnership, sexuality, and parenthood becomes unattainable for many, or it takes
place under the control of professionals or family members. In this context, people with visual impairments are part of a vulnerable group, acknowledging that visual impairment leads to limitations in everyday life,
autonomy, and quality of life to its full potential.
The purpose of this article is to describe the phenomena of sexuality
and sexual health among people with visual impairments, and to point out
the existing international and national normative frameworks relevant to
the sexual health of people with disabilities. Existing legislative acts acknowledge the right to a normal sexual life, as well as to the care and
maintenance of the sexual health of people with disabilities. However,
there are many obstacles and limitations that hamper the practical application of these rights: health issues, communication problems, lack of
privacy, people’s acceptance of the inhibition of their own sexuality, or
their acceptance of the labelling and normalisation of their situation. Even
considering the existence of the regulation, the system of support for
maintaining and improving the sexual and reproductive health of women
with disabilities is not developed enough. The lack of literature relating to
this topic shows that its importance is not recognised enough among the
relevant actors, including organisations that advocate for people with
disabilities. Realising the existing general legal framework requires the
will of policymakers, who could enact and implement specific bylaw regulations, as well as activating the societal actors relevant to this field., Seksualnost predstavlja osnovnu dimenziju ljudskog postojanja, ali i osetljivo područje ljudske intime.
Može da bude povezana sa mnogim zdravstvenim problemima, posebno sa onim iz područja reproduktivnog i seksualnog zdravlja. Postoje grupe koje su posebno ranjive kada je u pitanju seksualnost i briga o
reproduktivnom i seksualnom zdravlju. S obzirom na specifične uslove odrastanja i na zavisnost od pomoći
i podrške drugih, zadovoljenje potrebe za partnerstvom i seksualnošću za mnoge osobe sa invaliditetom
je nedostižno ili se odvija pod kontrolom profesionalaca ili članova porodice.
Cilj ovog rada je opisati fenomene seksualnosti i seksualnog zdravlja kod osoba sa oštećenjem vida i ukazati na postojeći međunarodni i nacionalni normativni okvir relevantan za seksualno zdravlje osoba sa
invaliditetom. Postojećim zakonima i strateškim aktima, osobama sa invaliditetom neosporno se priznaju
pravo na seksualni život i pravo na brigu i očuvanje seksualnog zdravlja, ali, takođe, činjenica je da postoje razna ograničenja u praksi: zdravstvena, komunikativna, nedostatak privatnosti, prihvatanje inhibiranja
sopstvene seksualnosti ili prihvatanja sredinskih etiketiranja i normiranja. I pored postojećeg strateškog
i zakonskog okvira, sistem podrške za očuvanje i unapređenje seksualnog zdravlja osoba sa invaliditetom
nije u dovoljnoj meri razvijen, a nedostatak literature o ovoj temi ukazuje da nije prepoznat ni njen značaj
među relevantnim akterima, uključujući i organizacije osoba sa invaliditetom. Realizacija postojećeg,
opšteg pravnog okvira zahteva političku volju koja bi se odrazila u donošenju konkretnih podzakonskih
akta i njihovoj implementaciji, te aktiviranju subjekata relevantnih za ovu oblast.",
journal = "Stanovništvo",
title = "Seksualnost i seksualno zdravlje osoba sa invaliditetom – sa posebnim osvrtom na osobe sa oštećenjem vida, Sexuality and sexual health of the population
with disabilities, with special reference to people
with visual impairments",
number = "Early Online",
doi = "10.2298/STNV200819001J"
}
