One of ARTH’s successful innovations has been the introduction of Copper-T 380A (the “ten year Copper-T”) in the community. ARTH undertook social marketing of 10 year Copper-T as a reversible alternative to sterilization. The Ten year Copper-T is being offered since July 1998, by the gynecologists’ and nurse midwives.
The intervention of 10 year Copper T questioned many of the straitjacketed assumptions on adoption of family planning. Some of the key lessons were :
- Decision about whether to space or to limit is not necessarily dependent on family size. The decision could change with time, for reasons, not necessarily related to the size of the family.
- The 10 year Copper T can be provided by a para-medical worker, reducing dependence on skilled doctors, equipment and more complex technology.