Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

Divide the group into 5 small groups. Ask each group to discuss and prepare to present to
the large group, their approach to initiating discussion with women in their community
concerning one of the following reproductive health situations:
• 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
• The woman is pregnant:
o Acknowledge that this must be a happy event (or ask if it is a happy event if it
appears that it might not be)
o Ask how many weeks/months she is pregnant
o Ask how she feels her pregnancy is progressing. Any problems, concerns?
o Ask about her knowledge and practice of eating, resting and exercising during
pregnancy
o Ask about her knowledge of recommended prenatal visits and the purpose of
these visits
o Ask about her attendance at prenatal visits
• The woman has a newborn/infant
o Acknowledge that this must be a happy event (or ask if it is a happy event if it
appears that it might not be)
o Ask about the age and health of the infant; and about the eating, behavior and
sleeping patterns of the baby
o Ask if the baby has received its vaccinations (according to its age)
o Ask if the woman is breastfeeding (including frequency, satisfaction, problems
etc)
o Ask about her knowledge of the sequence and importance of routine:
• follow-up visits for baby
• postnatal visits for herself
o Ask about her attendance at postnatal visits, and her infant’s attendance at
follow-up visits
• The woman has recently had an abortion
o If it seems appropriate to the woman, ask questions to help her identify reasons
or circumstances behind her unintended pregnancy and to assess whether these
events could lead to another unintended pregnancy
o Ask questions regarding her thoughts about her future behavior and possible
need for contraception (and STI prevention) according to her situation, in order
to prevent future unwanted pregnancies
• The woman has had many abortions in the past
o If it seems appropriate to the woman, ask questions about her feelings about the
fact that she has had multiple abortions (any feelings of sadness or loss, concerns
about the effects on her from multiple abortions)
o Ask questions regarding her thoughts about her future behavior and possible
need for contraception (and STI prevention) according to her situation, in order
to prevent future unwanted pregnancies
• The woman has several children and has problems taking care of them
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 14: Interpersonal Communication