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Vanessa Sekpon

Vanessa Sekpon

Benin-based researcher and epidemiologist specializing in safe abortion access and adolescent reproductive health in West Africa; author of SRHM-published research on abortion stigma in Benin.

Sep 28, 2026

17:45
And if there are findings that really could highlight this gap between what is legally possible and what is actually accessible.
17:58
As mentioned earlier by Jerry, the law has already contributed to the women and girls' access to safe abortion care.
18:07
There is more access to such services compared to the study our team has done in 2021.
18:13
In our last ethnographic study implemented in 2024-2025, over half of the adolescents and women interviewed assessed safe abortion care.
18:24
We have documented key facilitators of access to safe abortion care, which were knowledge of the law, even if awareness of its content was limited.
18:36
In fact, women aware of the legal reform are more likely to seek safe abortion care within healthcare facilities.
18:46
Also, working referral systems to guide abortion care seekers to the healthcare providers willing to provide the care.

16 MINS LATER

35:03
So I wonder if you could just say a little bit about how are they helping people access abortion information and services in Benin, particularly where they're bridging gaps left by the formal health system or trying to help women overcome some of these barriers that we're talking about and wonder sort of what role can civil society play in making the 2021 legal reform meaningful for women in practice? Maybe Vanessa, would you like to

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