Diversity training for health professionals: Preparedness to competently address intellectual disability in the Western Cape Province, South Africa
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Abstract
Diversity training for health professionals in South Africa has traditionally been conceptualized as
differences in gender, race or ethnicity, culture and sexual orientation. More recently physical
disability and mental illness was included as a dimension. Intellectual disabilities received lip service
as a diversity concern. This paper reports on health professionals’ perceptions of the extent to
which diversity training prepared them to competently deal with intellectual disabilities. This
explorative study included a purposive sample of 18 health care professionals experienced in
intellectual disability services. Two focus groups were facilitated over three sessions. Transcripts
were analysed thematically. Health professionals felt inadequately prepared to consider intellectual
disabilities as a diversity issue. They could not effectively advocate for reasonable accommodation.
There was a differential familiarity with issues related to diversity and intellectual disability with
profession constituting an additional intersecting dimension of diversity. Health professions did not
perceive their diversity training to prepare them to deal competently with intellectual disabilities.
Description
Keywords
Intellectual disability, Diversity, Health professionals, Disability, Western Cape
Citation
Smith, M. R. et al. (2023). Diversity training for health professionals: Preparedness to competently address intellectual disability in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 27(1), 24–39. 10.1177/17446295211050468