Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

• One's personal susceptibility to health problems resulting from many and/or closely-spaced
pregnancies
• “Normal” versus “risky” in terms of the number and spacing of pregnancies
• What other persons think you should do (for example one's husband, mother-in-law)
• The possibility of change (beliefs about what happens being God’s will versus the individual
having some control over his/her life)
• The credibility of the communication source (women's perceptions of the competence and
caring or commitment of the mediator)
• The prestige/status of practicing family planning versus having many children
It is difficult to change those beliefs that:
• Are based on a person's direct (and negative) experience unless you can explain the basis for
their experience, and explain and demonstrate the rationale for and safety of the proposed
change. (example: It may be difficult for a woman to accept to use an IUD if she or someone
she knows has experienced perforation of the uterus by an IUD)
• Are part of wider, and strongly held, belief systems (religion or tradition) Examples:
Catholic beliefs about artificial family planning; Islamic belief in polygamy; prestige or
other reasons for having many children)
• Have been held since childhood or have been acquired from trusted persons (parents,
religious leaders).
A woman's readiness to change behavior is strongly influenced by:
• Influences of other people (social factors):
o A woman may judge a proposed behavior favorably but may perceive that those
important to her do not want her to change (example: a woman may want to practice
family planning but knows her husband would not approve)
o 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
depends upon her strength of will and susceptibility to pressure.
• Beliefs that:
o She is susceptible (that the health problem could affect her rather than just 'other people')
o The health problem is serious/could lead to serious consequences if action is not taken
o The health problem can be prevented by the prescribed actions and that the benefits of
taking action would outweigh the disadvantages
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 13: BCC