Women and WASH in Nepal: a scoping review of existing literature

ABSTRACT

The relationship between gender and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is an issue for many developing states. This scoping review demonstrates that in Nepal, women bear the major social burden of inadequate WASH services and are under-represented in WASH-related policies and programmes. Four themes emerge: gender and water projects; lack of equal female participation in WASH policy development and implementation; women’s access to water; and menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Major cultural barriers embedded in Nepali society limit women’s access, agency and participation in WASH-related policy and practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender
• hygiene
• sanitation
• WASH
• water
• women

Disclosure statement

Authors declare no competing interests