Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

Ask that each time they shake hands with someone, they ask that person to sign their
card. Ask that they return to their seats after everyone has shaken hands with three
different participants.
3. First, ask the person with the index card h to stand. Then, ask the person with index
card g to stand. Then, ask the person with index card c to stand. Next, ask everyone who
shook hands with these three people to also stand.
Then, ask anyone who is still sitting if they shook hands with any of the people who are
now standing. Continue to ask this question until everyone who shook hands with a
standing person is also standing. This will be most if not all the class.
4. Ask the group to imagine that the h card represented a person with HIV, the g card
represented a person with Gonorrhea, and the c card represented a person with
Chlamydia. These are all sexually transmitted diseases. Ask participants to imagine that
the handshake represented unprotected sex. If this was the case, all of the standing people
could have been infected with one of these diseases. Emphasize that this shows how
easily STIs can spread in a community. Remind participants that STIs are NOT spread by
shaking hands, but by intimate sexual contact.
5. Ask everyone to sit down. Then, ask the person who did NOT shake anyone’s hand to
stand up. Remind the group that each person has the right to refuse to shake hands with
another participant, just as each person has the right to refuse a sexual encounter that may
put them at risk of being infected by a sexually transmitted infection.
Discover what participants know about STIs by asking the following key questions.
Correct misinformation and provide additional information if needed.
‣ Since shaking hands does not spread sexually transmitted infections (STIs), how are
they spread?
By having vaginal, anal, and/or oral sex with an infected person.
‣ What do you understand by sexually transmitted infections or STIs?
STIs are infections of the reproductive organs. They are transmitted through sexual
intercourse with an infected person.
‣ What STIs do you know?
Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Herpes, HPV, Hepatitis B and C, HIV infection,
Candida
Specify that:
• All STIs are spread through genital secretions (both in male in female) when a
person has unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 10: STIs