This year promises to be an interesting one for international family planning. Here are seven issues and trends to watch for:
1. The abortion pill.
The abortion pill is at the top of the list. Distribution and sales of these drugs are increasing everywhere they are available, including Mozambique, which recently liberalized its abortion policy. Although the combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is considered the gold standard, misoprostol alone is extremely effective and may be meeting close to half of worldwide abortion demand in countries where abortion is restricted. Social marketing groups sold 3.3 million combination packs and 16 million misoprostol-only tablets in 2013 and these numbers will increase.
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About the authors
Christopher Purdy
Christopher H. Purdy is the president and CEO of DKT International. From 1996 to 2011, he served as country director of DKT programs in Turkey, Ethiopia and Indonesia, where he managed the largest private social marketing family planning program in the world. He was also executive vice president from 2011-2013. His professional interests center on advancing the cause of social marketing for improved health, and socially responsible capitalism.
Phil Harvey
Phil Harvey founded DKT International in 1989 and served as its president through 2013. He is chairman of the DKT board of directors. Phil has been championing the benefits of social marketing for over four decades. He is author of the book "Let Every Child Be Wanted: How Social Marketing is Revolutionizing Contraceptive Use Around the World" and of more than 20 published articles on international development, family planning, and the use of social marketing techniques to promote family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention programs.
