7-8
WAYS TO INTRODUCE NEW IDEAS BY BUILDING ON
OLD ONES—Examples from Latin America
One of a health worker’s most delicate jobs is to help people recognize and change
health habits or customs that are harmful.
If the health worker says to someone, “What you do and believe is wrong,” this
usually will do more harm than good. How, then, can a health worker help people
discover better ways of doing things without offending them, shaming them, or
showing disrespect for their traditions? Here are some suggestions:
• Avoid telling people they are doing something wrong. Point out what they do right,
and help them find out for themselves what they are doing wrong.
• Look for what is true or beneficial in a custom or belief that is partly harmful, and
help people build new understanding around that.
• Help people explore the reasons, or even science, behind their beliefs and
customs. Then help them realize the need to weigh the risks against the
benefits—of both traditional and modern ways.
Example 1: Helping people learn a new way to treat diarrhea
In Mexico and much of Latin America,
people believe that dangerous diarrhea
results when a baby’s soft spot, or
fontanel, sinks in. They believe the
baby’s brains have fallen, causing the
diarrhea.
So when a baby with diarrhea has a
sunken soft spot, they treat him by. . .
In many parts of
Latin America, a
sunken ‘soft spot’
is thought to cause
diarrhea.
sucking on
the soft spot,
pushing upward
on the roof of
his mouth,
and slapping the
baby’s feet while
holding him ‘
upside down.