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Three Thoughts for World Contraception Day


Sunday, September 26, is World Contraception Day. The annual global campaign aims to raise awareness about contraception and safe sex. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic still disrupting lives around the world, this year, the Knowledge SUCCESS team wanted to take a more personal approach to honor the day. We asked our staff, “What’s the one thing that FP/RH program managers, tech advisors, and/or decision-makers should be thinking about on World Contraception Day?” Read on for the top three ideas.

Lessons of Failure

“In East Africa, we have begun a virtual/online discussion titled ‘Oops! Ah-ha! “Failures” in FP Program Implementation.’ Is failure a bad thing? Is failure considered a necessary part of the learning process? What lessons have you learned from an intervention you considered a failure? In what ways can failure be discussed most effectively?” — Alex Omari

Gender Equity

“On World Contraception Day, we should all be thinking about ways to push for gender equity in our programs. How can we provide FP/RH services in a gender transformative way (not accommodating or exploiting existing harmful inequalities and social norms)?” — Sarah Harlan

Future Barriers

“I think we should be thinking about ways to plan for future disruptions to FP/RH care based on the data emerging on the effects of COVID-19 on contraceptive supply chains, services, and care. This World Contraception Day, we should also be thinking about how racial and ethnic minorities, who already may face provider bias or barriers to accessing services, may be even more disproportionately affected by the effects of lockdowns and pandemic mitigation measures.” — Sonia Abraham
Tykia Murray

Former Managing Editor of Digital Content, Knowledge SUCCESS

Tykia Murray is a former Managing Editor of Digital Content for Knowledge SUCCESS, a five-year global project led by a consortium of partners and funded by USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health to support learning and create opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange within the family planning and reproductive health community. Tykia holds a BA in Writing from Loyola University Maryland and an MFA from the University of Baltimore's Creative Writing & Publishing Arts program.