Adolescentes com Síndrome de Down: a sexualidade no contexto familiar

Abstract

Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder triggered by the presence of chromosome 21, additional cells of the wearer. Therefore, this study aimed to reflect on the sexuality of people with Down syndrome in the family context, by surveying publications in the database of the Virtual Health Library - VHL (Lilacs and SciELO), in Portuguese and English . The main factor that predisposes to Down's syndrome in older pregnant women, where many times the family universe is not prepared to receive a child with this feature.In general, those with family members consider this syndrome as asexual beings. It is known that adolescence is a stage of life experienced by all, regardless of the physical, mental and intellectual individual. However, the sexual context to the family of people with Down syndrome can become a conflict condition in which the family considers them as asexual beings who do not present conditions for the awakening of her sexuality. The multidisciplinary research suggests actions for health promotion as a way of breaking taboos, and show the familiar universe that sexuality is inherent in all an act, where the carrier of Trisomy XXI has attributes for the awakening of her sexuality should be considered a right of all.