Sep 25, 2017   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

New Study Reveals 214 Million Women Have an Unmet Need for Modern Contraception

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- New data released by The Guttmacher Institute shows that of the 885 million women living in developing countries hoping to avoid pregnancy, 214 million of those are not using contraception. DKT International, one of the largest providers of contraceptives and family planning services in the developing world, stresses the importance of World Contraception Day (September 26), held annually to raise awareness and improved access of contraceptives for women worldwide.

"DKT remains committed to increasing access to high quality and affordable contraceptive services. As always, our goal is to give couples the resources they need to choose if and when to become parents," says Christopher Purdy, CEO and President, DKT International. "As a part of its commitment to FP2020, DKT will continue leveraging its social marketing expertise using culturally relevant marketing and educational campaigns to increase the accessibility, availability, and affordability of a wide variety of modern contraceptives."

The new data also estimates that of the 206 million pregnancies in 2017 in developing regions, 43% are unintended- either unplanned or undesired.

    --  DKT's program in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently purchased a
        boat to expand its contraceptive sales into the far reaches of the Congo
        river. This sales expansion is in tandem with the expansion of the
        "Batela Lobi Na Yo" youth program to increase access to and
        understanding of family planning in new provinces, including Equateur,
        North Kivu, Kassai, and Badundu. These efforts are supported by media
        campaigns on Facebook and YouTube. On July 29(th), DKT DRC co-sponsored
        DKT's Red One Festival where they raised awareness about contraceptives,
        sold reproductive and sexual health products, and educated the crowd of
        over 4,000 about available methods.
    --  DKT Mozambique's fixed and mobile mobile clinics increase access to
        contraceptives and reproductive health services. From January 2017 to
        July 2017, the clinics have served nearly 35,000 clients. Mobile units
        and trailers have increased underserved and rural populations' access to
        sexual and reproductive health services and products. Almost 4,000 of
        the visitors to mobile clinics were first-time users.
    --  Social media campaigns for condoms, emergency contraception, and IUDs
        have been well-received in Egypt. One video advertisement for DKT
        Egypt's line of emergency contraception, Contraplan II, was viewed more
        than 430,000 times.
    --  DKT's recent exclusive partnership with Ipas to license the Manual
        Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) kit, now enables DKT to provide and facilitate
        access to the world's most utilized, safe, and effective abortion care
        in countries where it is not restricted, including places where DKT does
        not currently operate.

"We will continue implementing out-of-the-box tactics and activities to engage, educate, and reach youth populations with messaging of family planning where they need it most," adds Purdy.

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SOURCE DKT International