14-8
Infected Scabies (continued)
QUESTIONS FOR GROUP
DISCUSSION FOLLOWING THE
ROLE PLAY:
• Why do you think the sister did
not mention the child’s sores?
• D id the health worker examine
the child’s throat and ears, and
look for other common causes
of fever?
• Did the health worker ask about
diarrhea and other problems?
• How soon did the health worker
figure out the child’s problem?
What did he overlook? What
might he have done better?
• D id the health worker use
the book well? Did he use it
to help explain the problem
to the sister? Did the sister
understand?
• D id the health worker examine
the sister for scabies, too?
Should he have?
• D id the health worker think
about whether the sister was old
enough or responsible enough
to be given the medicines and
instructions, or whether he
should talk with the mother?
• If the sister was too young and
the mother out of reach, did he
consider (for example) giving
the child a single injection of
long-acting penicillin instead of
tablets? What are the strengths
and weaknesses of such a
choice?
• Did the health worker explain
what preventive measures to
take? Did he suggest treatment
for the whole family? Did he
explain things simply and clearly?
Did he question the sister to
make sure she understood?
• Did the health worker notice the
child’s dirty hands and nails—
and give good advice (or cut the
child’s nails)?
• Did the health worker consider
the family’s economic position,
and give the least expensive
medicine for scabies?
• W as the health worker kind to
the child and to the child’s sister?
Did he treat them with respect?
As equals?
• C onclusions: What have we
learned from this role play? (It
may help to list the main points
on the blackboard.)
Note: It is better if these and other questions come mostly
from the students—not from the instructor. However, the
group leader may need to give suggestions for the kind of
questions to ask, especially at first. Later, the students will
often think of important questions and concerns that the
instructor may have overlooked.
Photo of scabies role play in
Mexico, with a village child as
the main actor.
Fun but serious: Role playing should be fun—but it also should be taken seriously.
Actions and characters may be exaggerated at times, but they should basically be
true to the way things and people really are. Whenever possible, role plays should
serve to deepen the group’s understanding of people and their problems.
IDEAS FOR ROLE PLAYS
In the rest of this chapter, we give examples of different kinds of role plays. Other
examples are found in other parts of this book. Look in the Index under ‘Role playing’.