Social Representations and Practices Surrounding the Use of Oxytocic Plants During Labour in Toviklin, South-western Benin in 2024

Introduction The use of oxytocic plants during labour remains common in West Africa despite potential risks and is still poorly understood in its social and practical dimensions. Methods A descriptive and interpretive qualitative study was conducted in 2024 in Toviklin (Couffo, Benin). In-depth interviews were carried out with women who had recently given birth, recruited through snowball sampling. Inductive thematic analysis was guided by the principles of grounded theory. Results Twenty-eight women were interviewed. Oxytocic plants were perceived as means of controlling the timing of labour and reducing risks associated with prolonged childbirth. Their intrapartum use was socially regulated, recommended by female authority figures, and embedded within pluralistic care-seeking pathways. While positive effects were reported, self-declared unpleasant experiences also emerged, often minimized, yet contributing to the continued social acceptance of the practice. Conclusion The use of oxytocic plants is embedded in a coherent system of representations and practices aimed at the social regulation of obstetric risk, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive maternal health interventions.