Executive summary – Out of the maze: expanding access to safe abortion in Benin

Executive summary – Out of the maze: Expanding access to safe abortion in Benin

This qualitative study, explores the lived experiences of adolescent girls and women in accessing safe abortion care since the adoption of the 2021 legislative reform.

Through testimonies and ethnographic analysis, the report highlights the progress made in access to care, while also drawing attention to the persistent barriers that adolescent girls and women continue to face, including stigma, social constraints, lack of information, and difficulties accessing health services.

The study also examines the impact of the legal reform and its implementation on the experiences of the adolescent girls and women concerned. It shows that, despite significant progress, numerous barriers continue to limit equitable access to safe abortion and post-abortion care.

This country report is part of a wider series of research in the West Africa and Central Africa regions. We also invite you to consult our regional report covering five countries, available at rutgers.international/themazewomenface.