ArticleThe Lancet regional health. Western Pacific2022
"The weather is not good": exploring the menstrual health experiences of menstruators with and without disabilities in Vanuatu.
Article in The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Disability and dignity: a qualitative systematic review of WASH-related barriers, facilitators and interventions for adults with musculoskeletal disabilities.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Mapping the health outcomes of menstrual inequity: a comprehensive scoping review.Reproductive health · 2025Article
- Climate change, disability, and water, sanitation and hygiene: A scoping review of evidence and interventions in low and middle-income countries.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Experiences of menstrual health in the Nordic countries: a scoping review of qualitative research, applying an intersectional lens.Sexual and reproductive health matters · 2024Article
- Article
- Inclusion of persons living with disabilities in a district-wide sanitation programme: A cross-sectional study in rural Malawi.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Feasibility study of a menstrual health behaviour change intervention for women and girls with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers for Vanuatu's humanitarian responses.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Article
- Menstrual Health Experiences of People with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Caregivers during Vanuatu's Humanitarian Responses: A Qualitative Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- What's the bleeding problem: menstrual health and living with a disability.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2022Article
- The inclusion of disability and aging in COVID-19 hygiene behavior change interventions across low-and middle-income countries: A review using the COVID-19 Inclusive WASH Checklist.Frontiers in public health · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMenstrual health is essential for gender equality and achieving the sustainable development goals. Though currently lacking, understanding and addressing menstrual health and social related inequalities requires comparison of experiences between menstruators with and without disabilities.
methodsWe completed a mixed-methods population-based study of water, sanitation and hygiene, disability and menstrual health in TORBA and SANMA Provinces, Vanuatu. Methods included a census, nested case-control study, in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), PhotoVoice and structured observations. We undertook a population census of 11,000+ households and recruited 164 menstruators with and 169 without disabilities (aged 10-45) into a nested case-control study. 20 menstruators across both groups were selected for the qualitative component.
findingsMenstruators with disabilities were five times (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 5.5, 95% Confidence Interval 1.8 - 16.5) more likely to use different bathing facilities to others in the household, nearly twice as likely (1.8, 1.1 - 3.1) to miss social activities, and three times (3.0, 1.6 - 5.7) more likely to eat alone during menstruation. Menstrual restrictions were widespread for all, but collecting water and managing menstrual materials was harder for menstruators with disabilities, particularly those requiring caregivers' support. These factors negatively impacted menstruators with disabilities' comfort, safety and hygiene, yet they reported less interference of menstruation on participation.
interpretationNegative factors affecting all menstruators disproportionately impact those with disabilities, compounding existing inequalities. Menstruators with disabilities may have reported less interference because they are accustomed to greater participation restrictions than others.
fundingAustralian Government's Water for Women fund and public donations.
Identifiers
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Registered trials
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