Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

Flip chart
COMMUNICATION FOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE
(in the context of the role of mediators)
What it is:
Face-to-face or group communication in which the mediator helps a woman, or women, to:
• Better understand her/their problems, situations and/or feelings, and
• Identify and apply solutions that are appropriate to the woman’s/women’s situations.
What the mediator does:
• Asks open questions to help the woman/women assess her/their situations, consider her/their
options, and identify and apply solutions
• Provides information to assist the woman/women to make her/their own decisions and then
act on them.
Generally communicates the message:
“The problem and decision are yours and I have confidence that you are capable of resolving the
problem by making the decision that is best for you.”
Advice
What it is:
Face-to-face or group communication in which the mediator tries to solve woman's/women’s
problem, identify the woman’s/women’s solutions, and/or make the woman’s/women’s decisions by
giving her opinion and/or proposing the solution to the woman/women.
Generally communicates the message:
“You are not capable of resolving this so I will have to do it for you". It makes the woman /women
dependent on the mediator, and in some cases leads to rebellion, and rejection of the advice, by the
woman.
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 13: BCC