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Background: People with intellectual disabilities can be exposed to sexual abuse and they can display harmful sexual behaviour. This study aimed to identify barriers to preventing harmful sexual behaviour in people with intellectual disabilities within the support sector and the justice system. Method: We conducted focus group interviews with 20 participants from hospital-based habilitation centres, community residences, schools and the criminal justice system. Results: The interviews identified a lack of education and guidelines for stakeholders or carers on regulating the sexual behaviour of people with intellectual disabilities. The criminal justice system faces challenges related to prioritising, understanding and communicating. People with intellectual disabilities may lack an understanding of the concepts of sexual consent and acceptable sexual behaviour. Conclusion: There is a need to improve knowledge about intellectual disability and how to prevent harmful sexual behaviour for professional caregivers in the support sector and the criminal justice system.

Background: This study investigates the use of health and dental care services in adults with intellectual disability in the last 12 months according to Norwegian recommendations and in relation to age and intellectual disability levels. Method: A cross-sectional community-based survey including 214 participants (56% men). POMONA health indicators were used for data collection. Results: Health checks and contact with general practitioners in the last year increased with age but were less frequent in those with more severe intellectual disability. Hospital admissions were age independent. Less than one-fifth of women had undergone cancer screening, with small variations according to intellectual disability severity levels. Few had an individual plan. More than one-third experienced poor dental health despite frequent controls. Conclusions: The use of health checks was lower than recommended, especially in individuals with more severe intellectual disability. Service access and individual plan use need to be enhanced, and dental care services should be improved.

Background: This study investigated the completion rates, scores and factors associated with non-completion and low scores on physical capability tests in a health survey administered to adults with intellectual disabilities. Method: Assessment comprised body mass index (BMI), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the timed up-and-go (TUG) test, the one-legged stance (OLS) test; and gross motor, communication and behavioural functioning tests. Results: The completion rates among 93 participants (aged 17-78) were 46% for the SPPB, 42% for the TUG, and 31% for the OLS. More severe intellectual disability (OR = 3.12, p < 0.001) and lower BMI (OR = 0.859, p = 0.001) were related to test non-completion. The SPPB scores were below the reference values from the general population. Lower scores were associated with older age, motor disabilities and intellectual disability severity. Conclusions: Including physical capability tests in health surveys among adults with intellectual disabilities is important to monitor functional status and guide prevention strategies.

The Norwegian health care system is built on individual rights and the principles of universal access, decentralization, and free choice of provider. Norway has universal health coverage, funded primarily by general taxes and by payroll contributions shared by employers and employees. Local authorities at the municipal level organize and finance primary health care services according to local demand and within national frameworks. Habilitation services are offered both in the primary health care and as a part of the specialist health services. They offer both inpatient and outpatient services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). National guidelines, known as Good health and care services for people with IDD, have recently (2021) been launched after various reports over the years of serious breaches and challenges in the health and care services provided to people with IDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have found that presence of challenging behaviours and mental health problems limits employment for people with intellectual disabilities. This study investigates the associations between age, gender, living condition, level of intellectual disability, diagnoses, behaviour, mental health, and employment in adults with intellectual disabilities in Norway. Method: A cross‐sectional community‐based survey including 214 adult participants (56% men) with intellectual disabilities. Results: In our sample, 25% had no organised day activity, 27% attended non‐work day care, 19% attended sheltered employment, or day care with production, without pay and 29% worked in paid sheltered employment. One participant attended mainstream employment. Moderate and severe/profound level of intellectual disability, possible organic condition and irritability significantly reduced the odds of employment (paid and unpaid). Conclusion: Findings suggest unequal access to the sheltered employment that was meant to be inclusive. More individualised evaluation of prerequisites is suggested to further facilitate employment for this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantitative cross-sectional design was used to systematically examine data derived from the municipality's coercive decision documents. The study included coercive decisions for people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) (n = 120) from central Norway over a period of one year (2020). The decisions were separated between not altered and altered to less intrusive types. The use of restraint measures can be relevant to prevent harm in some caring to people with IDs and severe behaviour problems. This article has reviewed municipalities' coercive decisions, identifying the characteristics of cases in which coercive measures were altered to less intrusive practices. Less intrusive coercive measures were correlated to the service's awareness of what triggers the challenging behaviour, that coercive decisions have an extended description of the person's life situation, and the person's opportunity to participate in formalised self-determination. The conclusion of this study shows higher user involvement, which has led to changes in the form of less intrusive measures for the person who is subjected to coercion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]