Research suggests that the lived experience of inadequate sanitation may contribute to poor health outcomes above and beyond pathogen exposure, particularly among women. The goal of this research was to understand women’s lived experiences of sanitation by documenting their urination-related, defecation-related and menstruation-related concerns, to use findings to develop a definition of sanitation insecurity among women in low-income settings and to develop a conceptual model to explain the factors that contribute to their experiences, including potential behavioural and health consequences.

Caruso BA, Clasen TF, Hadley C, et al. Understanding and defining sanitation insecurity: women’s gendered experiences of urination, defecation and  menstruation in rural Odisha, India.
BMJ Glob Health 2017; 2:e000414. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000414