“ Meet Your Gynecologist” Terri Jones, MAK 16 ROMA S. O. S. – Prilep
SPA Grant Amount: $ 1653.62 Community Contribution: $ 571.80 Communities impacted: Roma women from the settlement Trizla 2 in Prilep
pcv projects
In 2012, 27 Peace Corps Small Projects Assistance( SPA) Grants( with financing from USAID) were awarded to Peace Corps Volunteers in Macedonia.
On average, there have been eight to ten applicants per SPA round, with several rounds per year, and the average grant amount is $ 2,340.00. Here’ s a look at a few SPA projects of our current volunteers.
“ Meet Your Gynecologist” Terri Jones, MAK 16 ROMA S. O. S. – Prilep
SPA Grant Amount: $ 1653.62 Community Contribution: $ 571.80 Communities impacted: Roma women from the settlement Trizla 2 in Prilep
97 % of women do not use any form of birth control.
Most believe contraceptives are unhealthy. These factors contribute to a high rate of abortions in the community.
30 – Pauza Magazine
$ PA P
Successes
Roma women in Prilep are not aware that their health rights have been affected by changes to the Fund for Health Insurance that went into effect on September 1, 2011. This SPA project set out to collect relevant data on how Roma women exercise their right to have a primary gynecologist and a free PAP test, as authorized by an ongoing campaign first implemented by the Ministry of Health in April 2012.
A key activity of this project was conducting door to door research where 400 Roma women from the settlement Trizla 2 in Prilep were interviewed about issues related to their general and reproductive health. For the purpose of collecting data through surveys, a contract was made with a female member of the Roma community experienced in conducting interviews.
The interview included questions for women about their general and gynecological health, their knowledge of gynecological services and fees charged for those services, and their level of knowledge regarding the importance of caring for their gynecological health.
I was startled by the number of women who thought they had a registered gynecologist, when in fact they don’ t, resulting in a number of women being charged for a service that should be free to them.
I was also alarmed by the number of women who do not have accurate information about their gynecological health. A majority stated they are familiar with what is involved in a gynecological exam and why they are important, yet they didn’ t know what a PAP test is and don’ t think they ever had one.
97 % of women do not use any form of birth control. Most believe contraceptives are unhealthy. These factors contribute to a high rate of abortions in the community.
As a result of the research, Roma women who were unsure if they had a registered primary gynecologist came to the office of ROMA S. O. S. Prilep with their health booklets in order to check online to see if they have one. Those women who didn’ t have a registered gynecologist were directed to register, and those that had a primary gynecologist were informed that it is mandatory they be given a receipt if they are charged for an examination.
Some women had previously been charged between 100 to 1200MKD for an examination or were requested to leave their health booklets at the