Mapeamento de singularidades: um diagnóstico inicial para intervenções educativas em saúde sexual para pessoas com transtorno do neurodesenvolvimento

Abstract

This study aims to analyze how the sexual health of people with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDD) is perceived, addressed, and experienced in the context of the APAE (Association of Parents and Friends of Exceptional Children) in Sobral-CE, Brazil. It starts from the recognition that people with NDD frequently face communication barriers, cognitive difficulties, and limitations in understanding the biological aspects related to sexual health. This study is based on a segment of a research project entitled "Unexplored Territory: educational interventions on sexual health for people with Neurodevelopmental Disorders," which adopts the methodological assumptions of action research by Thiollent (2022), and we will limit ourselves to the exploratory phase of this broader investigation. Data analysis followed quantitative procedures (descriptive statistics) for sample characterization and qualitative procedures (content analysis according to Bardin) for understanding meanings and demands. Professionals and caregivers from the APAE in Sobral were involved, all with a direct and active link to people with NDD. Although the focus of the investigation was on subjects with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), their participation in this phase was indirect, mediated by the perceptions, experiences, and observations of caregivers, professionals, and the researcher's role in monitoring the group. The research revealed that young people with moderate and severe IDD presented cognitive difficulties, such as problems with working memory, attention, and verbal comprehension, in addition to a positive response to pedagogical methodologies based on visual resources, concrete teaching, and multisensory strategies. The discussions indicate that, in addressing sexual health, it is essential to overcome merely informative practices, valuing continuous dialogue between the institution, family, and users to break down stigmas and promote meaningful learning. It was also found that the continuous training of teams focused on NDD is lacking, as are factors that perpetuate vulnerabilities, increasing the risk of behaviors and exposure to harm. The final considerations reinforce the strengthening of interdisciplinary educational practices, based on empathetic communication, accessible resources, and the articulation between health, education, and family, as structuring conditions to guarantee the exercise of sexual health for people with NDD.