Disability and Sexuality in Zimbabwe

Sexual and reproductive health rights are an inherent human right, but people with disabilities (PWDs) still experience discrimination and prejudice when accessing them. Many of the over one billion people with disabilities around the world face challenges related to those rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted on December 13, 2006; one of its intended uses is to promote the sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR) of people with disabilities. The aim of this research was to understand the challenges faced by PWDs in Zimbabwe in accessing their SRHR and to identify strategies that might be used to overcome these barriers. Using a qualitative approach, the research gives voice to people, especially women and girls with disabilities, who are seldom heard. The research findings showed that people with disabilities face several kinds of challenges from childhood to adulthood that act as barriers to their efforts to access sexual and reproductive health information and services. They encountered negative attitudes and physical, cultural, and economic barriers. An intersectionality analysis further showed that these challenges impact more on girls and women with disabilities. Girls and women with disabilities encounter more intersecting barriers in their pursuit to access SRHR. To address some of the challenges mentioned above a nongovernmental organisation applied a range of strategies that could reduce the barriers. A multi-stakeholder approach was adopted which allowed stakeholder to bring their skills and knowledge towards promoting the rights of PWDs especially SRHR. Further strategies also included providing girls and young women with disabilities with assistive devices, livelihoods, and education, which empowered them to access productive health information and services. Results also showed that these activities helped to reduce stigma and discrimination. Our findings with regard to both challenges and potential solutions may be applicable to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere with comparable situation.