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Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

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Participant document<br />

THE INFLUENCE OF PERSONAL BELIEFS ON BEHAVIOR<br />

Factors which <strong>in</strong>fluence human behavior <strong>in</strong> general and which must be considered <strong>in</strong> help<strong>in</strong>g<br />

women to change certa<strong>in</strong> behaviors:<br />

Cultural factors:<br />

Norms or customs<br />

Traditions<br />

Beliefs<br />

Social factors: <strong>in</strong>fluences <strong>of</strong> other people (spouse, parents/relatives, friends, religious leaders,<br />

traditional healers etc).<br />

A woman may judge a proposed behavior favorably but may perceive that people important to<br />

her do not want her to change. (example: she may want to practice family plann<strong>in</strong>g but knows<br />

her husband would not approve)<br />

A woman may have an unfavorable attitude towards the behavior but be pressured by those<br />

around her to perform it. (example: an adolescent girl may not wish to have sex but feel<br />

pressured <strong>in</strong>to it by her boyfriend)<br />

Note: Whether a woman's own judgment can overcome the <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>of</strong> those around her <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

depends also upon her strength <strong>of</strong> will and on her susceptibility to pressure.<br />

Perception: subjective process <strong>in</strong> which people attempt to understand and <strong>in</strong>terpret messages. It is<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluenced by:<br />

• One's familiarity with, and understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>, language and term<strong>in</strong>ology used<br />

• The clarity <strong>of</strong> visual aids used to expla<strong>in</strong> the message<br />

• The quantity <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation given<br />

Enabl<strong>in</strong>g factors: factors which facilitate/make easier, or <strong>in</strong>hibit/make more difficult, certa<strong>in</strong><br />

behavior changes (for example the time, money and skills necessary to practice certa<strong>in</strong> reproductive<br />

health behaviors; the accessibility and quality <strong>of</strong> health services, etc)<br />

Examples <strong>of</strong> beliefs people may have that may <strong>in</strong>fluence their decisions to practice or not practice<br />

family plann<strong>in</strong>g. Beliefs about:<br />

• The causes <strong>of</strong> maternal and child health problems<br />

• The effort <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> practic<strong>in</strong>g family plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />

• The benefits <strong>of</strong> us<strong>in</strong>g family plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />

• The consequences <strong>of</strong> many and/or closely-spaced pregnancies<br />

198<br />

RFHI/JSI <strong>Roma</strong>nia <strong>Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>of</strong> RHMs <strong>in</strong> <strong>Reproductive</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Session 13: BCC

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