Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

To help women adopt healthy behaviors/practices concerning pregnancy, delivery, family
planning, and early childhood care, including nutrition; such healthy behaviors/practices
include the appropriate use of reproductive health services.
Explain that once we have defined the overall objectives of our educational sessions, it is
important to consider how to reach these objectives.
Post the flip chart Continuum in the Effectiveness of Educational Activities and present the
different stages in order to help participants appreciate the importance of the preparation of
educational sessions. Emphasize that the effectiveness of educational activities may be
limited (to any point of the continuum) by the effectiveness of the preparation and/or the
facilitation of the session.
In order for educational activities to be effective:
A. Reaching the intended audience
The mediator must identify the target population and develop the session based on
their needs and characteristics.
It is not very productive to:
• Focus on desired/positive behaviors that the group already practices consistently,
except to validate and/or reinforce them
• Suggest behaviors/practices that are difficult or impossible to implement or are
totally unacceptable to the group
B. Attracting the audience's attention
The educational session must attract people's attention so they will make the effort to
listen/participate. In order for this to happen:
• The topic must be of interest
• The manner in which the mediator facilitates the session must be interesting to
the group.
C. Understanding the message (perception)
People must be able to understand the message as it was intended. This depends
upon their ability to:
• Understand the language, terminology and/or pictures used
• Absorb the volume of information presented
Thus, the language, terminology and pictures used, and the volume of information
presented, must be appropriate to the characteristics of the group.
D. Promoting change (acceptance)
People must believe and accept the message. The acceptance of new information/
ideas depends in part on:
• The degree to which the information, ideas and/or proposed behavior changes
correspond to, or conflict with, people’s existing beliefs regarding the particular
subject/behavior
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 15: Group Education