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Paper short abstract:

This research examines how climate-induced adversities exacerbate menstrual health inequities in flood-prone Bihar. By identifying gaps in disaster policies and advocating for gender-sensitive interventions, it fosters discussions on integrating menstrual justice into climate resilience frameworks.

Paper long abstract:

Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) remains a neglected aspect of disaster response, despite its critical role in gendered health equity. Climate-induced adversities, such as recurrent flooding, exacerbate existing socio-economic inequalities and disrupt access to clean water, sanitation, and menstrual products. This study explores how menstrual health is impacted by extreme weather events in the flood-prone Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, which has deeply entrenched caste, class, religion and gender disparities.

Using qualitative methods, the research draws on semi-structured and in-depth interviews with menstruating individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Findings reveal that resource scarcity during floods—coupled with social stigma and displacement—severely limits access to menstrual products, privacy, and sanitation facilities. The study highlights critical gaps in disaster relief policies, where MHH remains an overlooked issue despite its implications for public health, gender equality, and human rights. Participants’ narratives reflect that the invisibility of MHH in climate and disaster policies underscores broader socio-political neglect towards reproductive health needs.

This study calls for integrating MHH into disaster response frameworks, advocating for gender-sensitive policies that recognize menstrual hygiene as a fundamental right. Using a menstrual justice framework, the study emphasizes the need for intersectional approaches that address the compounded vulnerabilities faced by menstruating individuals, particularly in resource-limited settings. By positioning MHH within broader discourses of public health, climate justice, and gender equity, this study contributes to rethinking care and health in crisis settings.

Keywords: Menstrual Health and Hygiene, Climate Adversities, Gender Inequality, Disaster Response, Menstrual Justice