Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

Participant document
THE INFLUENCE OF PERSONAL BELIEFS ON BEHAVIOR
Factors which influence human behavior in general and which must be considered in helping
women to change certain behaviors:
Cultural factors:
Norms or customs
Traditions
Beliefs
Social factors: influences of other people (spouse, parents/relatives, friends, religious leaders,
traditional healers etc).
A woman may judge a proposed behavior favorably but may perceive that people important to
her do not want her to change. (example: she may want to practice family planning but knows
her husband would not approve)
A woman may have an unfavorable attitude towards the behavior but be pressured by those
around her to perform it. (example: an adolescent girl may not wish to have sex but feel
pressured into it by her boyfriend)
Note: Whether a woman's own judgment can overcome the influence of those around her often
depends also upon her strength of will and on her susceptibility to pressure.
Perception: subjective process in which people attempt to understand and interpret messages. It is
influenced by:
• One's familiarity with, and understanding of, language and terminology used
• The clarity of visual aids used to explain the message
• The quantity of information given
Enabling factors: factors which facilitate/make easier, or inhibit/make more difficult, certain
behavior changes (for example the time, money and skills necessary to practice certain reproductive
health behaviors; the accessibility and quality of health services, etc)
Examples of beliefs people may have that may influence their decisions to practice or not practice
family planning. Beliefs about:
• The causes of maternal and child health problems
• The effort involved in practicing family planning
• The benefits of using family planning
• The consequences of many and/or closely-spaced pregnancies
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 13: BCC