Cultural Practices and Health Vulnerabilities: The Impacts of Menstrual Exile on Domestic Violence against Women in Far-Western Nepal

In Far-Western Nepal, the cultural practice of Chaupadi exposes adolescent girls and women to a week of menstrual exile in animal sheds, posing significant health risks. This study focuses on the intersection of cultural practices and health vulnerabilities, specifically investigating the impact of menstrual exile on domestic violence against women. Given the ethical and cultural challenges that preclude randomization, we employed propensity score matching using data from the 2019 Nepal Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey. Results reveal a statistically significant increase in intimate partner violence and violence by mothers-in-law among women who undergo menstrual exile. These findings underscore the importance of culturally sensitive approaches within health systems to address and prevent women’s vulnerability to domestic violence in regions where such practices persist.