Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

o Introduce the subject
o Invite the participation of the group
o Provide structure to the discussion in order to achieve the objectives of the
session
• It will improve your demonstration (and you will model what you are teaching) if
you can use visual aids. Be sure to respect the principles for using them.]
Lead a group discussion, using visual aids (if possible) and asking open questions. Ask the
group to assume the roles of a group of mothers of infants 6-12 months of age.
1. Welcome the group and introduce yourself.
2. Introduce the subject (prevention and treatment of early childhood malnutrition).
Suggest that this is a subject that is of concern to women who have young babies.
Invite the group to participate actively in the discussion.
[Note to trainer: For the purposes of demonstrating the facilitation of a group education
session, you may decide to designate a different target population of women and a different
reproductive health topic.]
3. Facilitate the group discussion, using the following key questions (or similar
questions and/or introduction as appropriate):
‣ The health of our babies and children is important to us as mothers, and their
nutrition is very important to their health. What is the best food we can give our
babies/infants?
Breast milk
‣ At what time (age of the baby) do you begin giving other foods to your baby? What
do you give them?
Responses will vary.
Note: assume that several people say they wean their babies early (at 3-4 months) and
give them rice and thin porridge.
‣ What happens to babies if they only eat rice and porridge?
Often they get sick
‣ What are the signs that tell you they are sick?
After some time, their hair becomes lighter; their tummies, arms, legs and feet swell;
their skin may begin to crack and peel, especially at the joints; they are weak and very
unhappy
243
RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 15: Group Education