ArticleScientific reports2026
A perspective on economic barriers and disparities in access to hormone replacement therapy in LMICs (MARIE-WP2b).
Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Hormone therapy (HT) in women with premature ovarian insufficiency or early menopause: Time to think of a new paradigm for healthy aging. A joint FIGO and IMS position paper.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026Article
- Physical and mental health impact of perimenopause, menopause and post menopause in a diverse global population (MARIE Project- Global Chapter WP 2a): cross-sectional quantitative data from a mixed-methods study.EClinicalMedicine · 2026Article
- Breaking the silence and building strength; rethinking menopause care through exercise and cultural insight.Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Article
- Exploring the availability and acceptability of hormone replacement therapy in LMICs using insights of pharmacists (MARIE Sri Lanka WP2a).Scientific reports · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
38 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Women globally spend a significant portion of their lives experiencing perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, which can severely affect their quality of life. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has proven effective in alleviating symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders. However, disparities in access to HRT exist, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where socioeconomic factors and healthcare availability may limit treatment access. We aimed to explore economic barriers and disparities to access to HRT across Brazil, Ghana, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria and Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted using publicly available data from national healthcare databases, pharmacies, and hospital formularies from Brazil, Ghana, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka. The availability and cost of common HRT medicines, including oral and transdermal therapies, were analysed alongside of surgical procedures. Affordability was assessed by comparing the cost of a two-month HRT supply to the number of days of minimum wage work required to cover the cost. Additionally, Gross National income per capita was also collected to contextualise these findings. The availability of HRT medicines varied widely across six countries, with Brazil and Nigeria offering a broader range of options compared to Ghana and Nepal. Pricing disparities were significant, with the cost of medicines such as the Mirena Coil requiring over 21 days of minimum wage work in Brazil and more than 260 days in Nigeria for Angeliq. Affordability remained a critical issue across LMICs, with high out-of-pocket costs restricting access to essential menopausal treatments. This study reveals substantial economic barriers to accessing HRT in LMICs, driven by high costs and limited availability. Healthcare policy reforms to improve access and affordability of HRT in these regions are urgently needed. These findings can inform strategies to reduce healthcare inequalities and enhance women's health outcomes globally.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.