November Newsletter
Dear Friend of DKT,
The recent presidential election in the United States has proven to be a pivotal one for our work both domestically and internationally. DKT has never been a political or advocacy organization, but given the proposed policies of the incoming Trump administration, this is not a time for silence. Rather, we are standing in solidarity with our global teams, affiliates, and partners in the US and abroad as we seek to find a constructive way to ensure that men and women everywhere can maintain agency over their reproductive lives.
DKT is also working with our global partners to determine how we can support those who will be affected if and when the Trump administration reinstates the Global Gag Rule. If you missed it, our partner, Rutgers - For sexual and reproductive health and rights, published an article previewing how a potential reinstatement of this rule will reverberate throughout the global SRH community. It’s an important read.?
Domestically, the work of our affiliate carafem will be most severely affected by a change in government in the United States. carafem is prepared to mitigate threats as they arise, but in the meantime, they – like all of DKT’s teams – are hard at work expanding sexual and reproductive health access in their primary market, the United States. This month carafem launched new operations in Michigan, which is the second such expansion this year. Details of all their recent accomplishments are outlined below.
We also recently released a significant piece of research: “Contraceptive Use: Estimating DKT’s Contribution in Key Countries, Part II.” This study details DKT International’s impact on global contraceptive prevalence and access, offering insights into our strategic use of social marketing to improve public health outcomes and drive market growth.?
As always, DKT remains committed to the work. We encourage you to join us by making a donation guaranteeing that we can fight to ensure men and women everywhere have the power to determine their own reproductive destinies.
Cheers,
Chris Purdy, President, DKT International
U.S. election results are not a deterrent for carafem, DKT International
A Republican administration in Washington, DC is bad for reproductive rights globally and in the United States. Abortion providers everywhere – including our affiliate carafem – will be severely affected by the impending political shift. Our official statement on the US election and what it means for us, our partners, and reproductive rights more generally can be found on our website. These changes, however negatively impactful, are not slowing us down. Quite the opposite: on November 7th, DKT’s affiliate, carafem, expanded into Michigan, offering telehealth abortion services, thereby increasing access to critical abortion care in the Midwest – including Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
“In our current environment, it’s essential to have multiple access points across the country so people can receive safe, effective, and compassionate abortion care,” said Melissa Grant, carafem’s Chief Operations Officer. “By adding Michigan to our list of states offering medication abortion via telehealth, we’re providing greater access, especially for people in rural communities and nearby states who need more options for care.” Read more about carafem's Michigan expansion in their new blog.
carafem and IBIS Reproductive Health also published new research within the last month affirming what we already know – that telehealth care for abortion is safe and effective. The study found that 88% of clients who received telehealth medical abortion services stated they would choose telehealth services again, noting that they found the experience accepting, convenient, and technologically accessible. This feedback highlights the privacy, ease, and flexibility of telehealth abortion services.?
World Vasectomy Day makes its way to Zambia?
There is a growing call to action for men to become advocates for their own sexual and reproductive health, as well as for their partners, and the demand for more training, education, and knowledge about vasectomy services is on the rise. The increased effort to normalize vasectomies can be attributed to World Vasectomy Day (WVD), which is both an organization and an event – named for its annual 24-hour “Vasect-a-thon.”
The Vasect-a-thon is fast approaching – slated to kick off from Zambia on November 22nd. The team at WVD has been preparing for this year's event for months, organizing several webinars for doctors interested in performing vasectomies, giving lectures to medical students in Uganda, and opening a clinic in Zambia.
Other featured events during the Vasect-a-thon include:
To learn more about World Vasectomy Day’s work visit their website
New Research alert: providers in the Philippines lack confidence using LARCs
Providers in the Philippines have limited training and knowledge regarding long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), especially IUDs and contraceptive implants, according to a new study released this month by DKT Philippines. Research revealed that many healthcare providers lack formal IUD insertion and removal training and that potential clients – particularly adolescents – often do not have access to the proper counseling or support related to LARCs necessary to feel comfortable using them.?
Researchers conducted online surveys, interviews, and focus groups with nearly 800 healthcare providers (over half of whom were midwives) to identify their training needs. Based on the findings, the team formulated long-term strategies for LARC education, including hands-on procedural training for IUDs and implants; training sessions on addressing myths about LARCs, and incorporating adolescent-friendly practices.
To dive deeper into the findings of DKT Philippines’s research on LARCs, read our blog.?
Contraceptive Use: Estimating DKT’s Contribution in Key Countries Part 2
In January, we published Contraceptive Use: Estimating DKT’s Contribution in Key Countries, a report analyzing DKT’s estimated contribution in seven markets.
In October, we added five additional markets to that study, delving into our impact on contraceptive prevalence globally. This release offers insight into DKT’s strategic use of social marketing to meet the growing demand for modern contraceptives, our work to improve public health outcomes, and progress made driving market growth in regions where it’s most needed.
The Phil Harvey Memorial Fund:
DKT India reaches hard-to-reach populations with the Phil Harvey Memorial Fund
In India, women in rural areas lack access to safe and reliable sexual and reproductive health information and resources, which is why DKT India has launched a creative rural outreach program focused on changing behaviors in India’s most populous state: Uttar Pradesh.?
The on-the-ground campaign was funded with proceeds from the Phil Harvey Memorial Fund, established for DKT offices to implement powerful initiatives in memory of our founder, who passed away three years ago in December 2021. DKT India worked with a local NGO, the Bhoomi Foundation for two days of story-telling street plays (Nukkad Natak) on topics such as family planning, women empowerment, and proper contraceptive use. The performances were structured to engage both men & women, emphasizing shared responsibility and creating a space for open discussion on traditionally taboo subjects.
Teams collaborated with Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), community health workers who connect rural populations with essential healthcare services, particularly for maternal and child health. Free consultations also allowed participants to receive personalized advice on sexual and reproductive health.
DKT India is planning to scale up the initiative in 2025.
Giving young people in Burundi stigma-free access to contraception
DKT Burundi has used their Phil Harvey Impact Funds to open a Youth Center in the province of Kirundo in collaboration with the Solidarity of Burundian Women for Social Well-Being and Progress, a local organization. The new center includes a supply corner for DKT products, including condoms and emergency contraception, providing a taboo-free and non-discriminatory environment for young people to learn about sexual and reproductive health.
Marketing highlights:
New TimeMax Extra Dotted condoms emphasize the need for pleasure, for him and her?
Pleasure is the focus of DKT India’s new ads for their new TimeMax Extra Dots condoms, branded as “crucial for long-lasting sex and mutual pleasure for men and women.” The ads emphasize personal agency with condom usage, with women initiating their own condom purchases, pharmacists recommending them, and friends buying condoms for friends.
DKT Pakistan rebrands its Dhanak Healthcare Centers with influencers, new ads
Dhanak Healthcare Center's new brand ambassador Sarwat Gilani – a popular Pakistani model and actress – appeared in a video on World Contraception Day to discuss the importance of family planning and its crucial role in safeguarding the health of both mothers and children. In the video below, Gilani discusses Dhanak Healthcare Center’s role as a trusted provider of sexual and reproductive health counseling and urges viewers interested in SRH counseling to call the Dhanak Healthcare Center helpline number.?
Using humor and street slang to market condoms in the Philippines
DKT Philippines launched a new ad blitz for Trust condoms, featuring the exotic delicacy balut – boiled duck embryo – often sold at night by roaming street vendors who yell “Baluuut!” The ad plays on the cultural reference by substituting “balut” with “balot”, which means “wrapper” in Filipino. In street slang, “wrapper” can mean condoms. This ad taps into the humor common in Pinoy street culture, targeting consumers in a familiar way.
The campaign included a blitz of 2,064 radio spots on 12 popular radio stations and a mix of other print and digital media placements.?
Listen to the ad here.
More Wet and Intimate in Indonesia
Sutra Condoms recently released five new ads for its lubricants, each targeting different demographics – from newlyweds to long-married partners. The videos explore intimate scenarios, including spontaneous sex, morning sex, and a couple's first night together as newlyweds.