Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

1) the woman comes to the mediator with a problem which she wants the mediator to
help her with. In this case, the mediator uses her knowledge of reproductive health
and her skills in active listening to try to help the woman resolve her problem.
2) the mediator initiates a discussion about reproductive health with a woman based
on the mediator’s impression of the woman’s situation and possible benefits from
changing certain of her behaviors. In this case, the mediator initiates a discussion
with the woman, based on the mediator’s knowledge and/or observations of the
woman’s situation.
Explain that, for the moment, we will consider approaches we can use to initiate discussions
of reproductive health with women in our communities.
Ask the group:
‣ Based on what you have learned about reproductive health, and what you know
about reproductive health practices in your communities, in what kinds of situations
would you initiate a discussion about reproductive health with a woman in your
community?
In relationship to my knowledge and/or observation that:
• The woman is pregnant
• The woman has a newborn/infant
• The woman has recently had an abortion
• The woman has had many abortions in the past
• The woman has several children and has problems taking care of them
‣ For what purpose would you initiate such a discussion?
In order to find out the woman’s:
• Perception of her situation (healthy, problematic, etc)
• Reproductive health practices
• Feelings about her situation
• Knowledge of important principles that apply to her situation and if she is applying
them; and if not, to see how we can help her to:
o Become more knowledgeable
o Change her behavior in ways that are healthier for her and for her children.
Remind participants of the earlier discussions of the processes of:
• 1) behavior change, and 2) decision-making, and the fact that some women may
decide to change their behavior relatively quickly while others may take years to
change, or may never change.
• Problem solving, and the fact that the individual is responsible for her behavior
(although her situation may be complicated by other factors as well) and that the role
of the mediator is to help her if she wants to change/solve her problem, and to
provide information and other assistance to help her.
218
RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 14: Interpersonal Communication