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Exploring the perceptions of service providers regarding the need for and availability of services that affect the well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals living with intellectual and developmental disability in Cape Town, South Africa
Background: Limited studies have focused on the service providers' perspective regarding the need for and availability of services for people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+)...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613314796748800 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Poswa, Nathi |
| author2 | Kleintjes, Sharon |
| author_browse | Kleintjes, Sharon Poswa, Nathi |
| author_facet | Kleintjes, Sharon Poswa, Nathi |
| author_sort | Poswa, Nathi |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Background: Limited studies have focused on the service providers' perspective regarding the need for and availability of services for people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) (Stoffelen, Kok, Hospers, et al., 2013). The purpose for the study was to promote a better understanding of what service-providing organisations, policymakers, researchers, advocacy groups, and the government should focus on to advocate for and meet the needs of LGBTQIA+ people with IDD. Method: The study design was qualitative. A scoping review of the literature was undertaken, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 service providers who work with people who have IDD, people from the LGBTQIA+ community, and individuals with both identities. Results: The results indicated that, for people with IDD who are LGBTQIA+, service availability and access is dependent, in part, on service providers' core beliefs rather than policy guidance. The results indicate that there is a need for sexuality education that focuses on different sexual orientations for people with IDD and their service providers. Study implications: More research is needed to explore the perceptions of transgender individuals with IDD regarding the availability of and access to gender affirming healthcare, as well as research to inform the development or adaptation of LGBTQIA+ inclusive educational programmes for service providers, users and their caregivers. Future research should include LGBTQIA+ service users' primary accounts, to inform decision-making for service developments and educational resource developments regarding all aspects of their sexual health and well-being. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41908 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:34:10.861Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| publisherStr | Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41908 Exploring the perceptions of service providers regarding the need for and availability of services that affect the well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals living with intellectual and developmental disability in Cape Town, South Africa Poswa, Nathi Kleintjes, Sharon Intellectual and developmental disability LGBTQIA+ Service needs Service providers Quality of life Well-being Background: Limited studies have focused on the service providers' perspective regarding the need for and availability of services for people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) (Stoffelen, Kok, Hospers, et al., 2013). The purpose for the study was to promote a better understanding of what service-providing organisations, policymakers, researchers, advocacy groups, and the government should focus on to advocate for and meet the needs of LGBTQIA+ people with IDD. Method: The study design was qualitative. A scoping review of the literature was undertaken, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 service providers who work with people who have IDD, people from the LGBTQIA+ community, and individuals with both identities. Results: The results indicated that, for people with IDD who are LGBTQIA+, service availability and access is dependent, in part, on service providers' core beliefs rather than policy guidance. The results indicate that there is a need for sexuality education that focuses on different sexual orientations for people with IDD and their service providers. Study implications: More research is needed to explore the perceptions of transgender individuals with IDD regarding the availability of and access to gender affirming healthcare, as well as research to inform the development or adaptation of LGBTQIA+ inclusive educational programmes for service providers, users and their caregivers. Future research should include LGBTQIA+ service users' primary accounts, to inform decision-making for service developments and educational resource developments regarding all aspects of their sexual health and well-being. 2025-09-25T07:06:51Z 2025-09-25T07:06:51Z 2025 2025-09-23T13:57:07Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters Masters http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41908 eng application/pdf Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Intellectual and developmental disability LGBTQIA+ Service needs Service providers Quality of life Well-being Poswa, Nathi Exploring the perceptions of service providers regarding the need for and availability of services that affect the well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals living with intellectual and developmental disability in Cape Town, South Africa |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Exploring the perceptions of service providers regarding the need for and availability of services that affect the well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals living with intellectual and developmental disability in Cape Town, South Africa |
| title_full | Exploring the perceptions of service providers regarding the need for and availability of services that affect the well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals living with intellectual and developmental disability in Cape Town, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the perceptions of service providers regarding the need for and availability of services that affect the well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals living with intellectual and developmental disability in Cape Town, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the perceptions of service providers regarding the need for and availability of services that affect the well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals living with intellectual and developmental disability in Cape Town, South Africa |
| title_short | Exploring the perceptions of service providers regarding the need for and availability of services that affect the well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals living with intellectual and developmental disability in Cape Town, South Africa |
| title_sort | exploring the perceptions of service providers regarding the need for and availability of services that affect the well being of lgbtqia individuals living with intellectual and developmental disability in cape town south africa |
| topic | Intellectual and developmental disability LGBTQIA+ Service needs Service providers Quality of life Well-being |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41908 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT poswanathi exploringtheperceptionsofserviceprovidersregardingtheneedforandavailabilityofservicesthataffectthewellbeingoflgbtqiaindividualslivingwithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilityincapetownsouthafrica |