Sexuality and mental disability (II). A descriptive study in “Miraflores” Psychiatric Hospital in Seville (Spain)

Abstract

This paper describes sexual behaviours of mentally retarded people at the Miraflores Psychiatric Hospital, Seville. Two groups were distinguished, according tothe methodology employed: mild, moderate and severely retarded (questionnaire) and profoundly retarded (observational record). The population was composed of 117 male and female subjects, from 18 to 65 years, with an I.Q. of less than 70. The analysis of the data was carried out with the SPSS PC PLUS statistical package. The most remarkable results refer, generally, to the existence of all sort of sexual practices, both heterosexual and homosexual, without a significant incidence of any of them. The. exaggerated frequency of sexual behaviours that social conceptions assume was not found. Finally, it is important to remark on these subjects deficient ability to respond to possible situations of sex exploitation. This points towards the need of developping sexual education programmes for them.