Understanding Widowhood in Benin: Socio-Cultural Practices, Challenges, and Interventions

Presented at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2025), this poster shares findings from EngenderHealth’s study on widowhood practices in Benin. Despite laws protecting women’s rights, many widows continue to face harmful rituals such as seclusion, head shaving, and restrictions on movement or remarriage. These customs perpetuate stigma, limit autonomy, and have lasting effects on women’s mental and physical health.