Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

II.
INITIATING DISCUSSIONS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH (15 minutes)
Ask the group:
‣ Do women who might need reproductive health services always seek them? What are
some of the reasons why they do not seek services?
• They may feel that they have other more important priorities
• They may not have thought much about their situations and health risks
• They may be embarrassed, or they may not know how to bring up their concerns to
anyone
• There may be conflicts between some of their family’s customs, traditions and/or beliefs
and their own behavior
• They may have fears about certain services or health personnel
‣ Should mediators initiate discussions with women about reproductive health if women do
not ask? Why? Why not?
Mediators should ask women of reproductive age about their reproductive health situations and
concerns if there is any indication that they might need services but are not using them. By
initiating such discussions, the mediator can help women to think about their health and their
children’s health and about any needs, questions and/or concerns they might have. Making
women aware of the mediator’s readiness to help them may make it easier for some women to
talk about their needs/concerns.
Refer to the family planning example and ask:
Ask:
‣ What is the role of the mediator in situations in which:
Women of reproductive age are not using contraception?
Women of reproductive age are not using effective methods of contraception, or are not
using effective methods of contraception effectively?
• With women of reproductive age who are not using contraception, ask questions about
their reproductive intentions:
o Whether they plan to have more children
o What they wish to be the spacing between their pregnancies/children
o The number of children they wish to have
o Whether they are currently using contraception or are interested in using
contraception to help them plan the number and spacing of their children
• With women of reproductive age who are not using effective methods of contraception, or
who are using effective contraceptive methods but are using them incorrectly, review with
them:
o Their reproductive health intentions
o The risks of using the methods they are using in the ways they are using them
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 13: BCC