Journal Articles

Under Review or In Press

Caruso B.A., Mink, M., Patrick, M., Ogutu, E., Dawkins, C., Bendit, O., Fatima, M., Lustig, I., Macler, A., White, J., Zamora, A., López, A.E.S., Ramírez, H.S.P., Sic, C.D., Chávez, J.L., Antonio, S., Irías, J.N., Ramos, G., Atandi, E., Mwangi, P., Koome, P., Onyango, R.O., Otuya, P.A., Ruto, P., Chidavaenzi, M., Jimu, J., Maphosa, S., Maworera, M., Damson, M., and Sinharoy, S.S. ‘Women’s experiences collecting and accessing water in Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and Zimbabwe: A mixed-methods investigation,’ medRxiv, Pre-print. [WASH and Empowerment] [Strong Women, Strong World]
Ogutu, E., Sinharoy, S.S., Patrick, M., Mink, T., Macler, A., Mbogo, L., Bendit, O., Lustig, I., Irías, J.N., Antonio, S., Ramos, G., Juarez, A., Sic, C.D., Calderón, E., Ramírez, H.S.P., Lemus, J., Atandi, E., Mwangi, P., Ruto, P., Onyango, R.O., Mushangari, G., Jimu, J., Chidavaenzi, M., Maworera, M., Mhlotshwa, N.D., Maphosa, S., Damson, M., and Caruso, B.A. ‘“If we have water, we have money”: A qualitative investigation of the role of water in women’s economic engagement in Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and Zimbabwe,’ medRxiv, Pre-print. [WASH and Empowerment] [Strong Women, Strong World]
Mink, T., Patrick, M., Conrad, A., Ahmed, T., Arun, A., Ramanarayanan, V., Chakraborti, N., Reddy, Y.M., Nagarajan, A., Bhan, T., Sinharoy, S.S., and Caruso, B.A. ‘Sanitation-related empowerment resources are associated with women’s well-being, anxiety, and depression: findings from Bangladesh, India, Senegal, and Uganda,’ medRxiv. Pre-print. [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE]
Sinharoy, S.S, Xia, D., Patrick, M., McManus, S., Chipungu, J., Reddy, Y.M., Ahmed, T., Mink, T., Pan, Y., Bhan, T., Conrad, A., and Caruso, B.A. ‘The Agency, Resources, and Institutional Structures for Sanitation-related Empowerment (ARISE) Scales: Psychometric evaluation across Asia and Africa.’ Research Square. Pre-print. [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE] [Measurement]
Shakil, Z., Caruso, B.A., Patrick, M., Mink, T., Bhan, T., Ahmed, T., Reddy, Y.M., Sinharoy, S.S. ‘Heavy menstrual bleeding and association with menstruation-specific resources: A multinational cross-sectional study in low-and middle-income countries.’ [Heavy Menstrual Bleeding] [Menstrual Health] [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE]

2025

Ballard, A.M., Wallace, E., Kaza, P., Self-Brown, S., Freeman, M.C., Caruso, B.A. ‘Mapping menstrual health and hygiene progress in US schools: A systematic policy review and comparison across states,’ Frontiers in Reproductive Health. [Menstrual Health]

Sinclair, E., Hüls, A., Patrick, M., Arun, S., Ramanarayanan, V., Sinharoy, S.S., and Caruso, B.A. 2025. ‘Sanitation-related withholding and suppression among women in urban Uganda and India,’ Nature Water. 3:782-792. [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE]

Charles, I., Patrick, M., Mink, T., Ahmed, T., Reddy, Y.M., Young, M.R., Waford, R., Caruso, B.A., and Sinharoy, S.S. 2025. ‘Association between heavy menstrual bleeding and depression among women in South Asia: a cross-sectional study,’ American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. S0002-9378(25)00393-X [Heavy Menstrual Bleeding] [Menstrual Health] [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE] ↳ Download PDF

Stephan, N., Sinharoy, S.S., Waford, R., Patrick, M., Mink, T., Bhan, T., Ahmed, T., Ahmed, A., and Caruso, B.A. 2025. ‘The association between women’s decision-making roles in sanitation and mental well-being in urban Bangladesh,’ Health & Place. 95:103515. [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE] ↳ Download PDF

Mink, T.L., Salinger, A.P., Francis, N., Batagol, B., Burge, K., Ilhamsyah, N., Malumu, L., Marzaman, L., Prescott, M., Putri, N.I., Sinharoy, S.S. 2025. ‘Who participates in ‘participatory design’ of water and sanitation infrastructure: a mixed-methods process evaluation,’ PLOS Global Public Health. 5(6):e0003430 [Water for Women] [ID & IS] ↳ Download PDF

Starr, M. Harding, R., Ataíde, R., Von Dinklage, N., Sinharoy, S.S., Jayasinghe, Y., Manda-Taylor, L., Fisher, J., Braat, S., and Pasricha, S-R. 2025. ‘Epidemiology of menstrual-related absenteeism in 44 low- and middle-income countries,’ The Lancet Global Health. 13:e285-97 [Menstrual Health] ↳Download PDF

Bhan, T., Caruso, B.A., and Sinharoy, S.S. 2025. ‘Women’s health and empowerment for sustainable development: Linking sanitation burden and agency in Asia and Africa,’ Sustainable Development. [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE] ↳ Download PDF

Patrick, M., Stephan, N., Mink, T., Bhan, T., Aine, B.A., Matanda, V.M., Conrad, A., Sinharoy, S.S., and Caruso, B.A. 2025. ‘Knowledge, attitudes, and support of women’s menstrual experiences: A cross-sectional survey of men in Kampala, Uganda,’ Health & Place, 93: 103439. [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE] ↳ Download PDF
Marphatia, A.A., Simiyu, S., O’Kane, M.F., Alexander, K.T., Nascimento de Castro, A.C.A., Azcona, G., Boni-Morkla, P.E., Bukachi, S.A., Busienei, P., Caruso, B.A., Chase, C., Chipungu, J., Dwivedi, A., Johnston, R., Khurana, I., Kome, A., Kuria, W., Labadia, J., Makoni, F., Mberu, B., Mojumdar, S., Mule, J., Sakwa, L.N., Njeri, N., Oliveira de Souza, F.A., Pandolfelli, L., Ramunenyiwa, P., Ray, I., Reddy ,M,. Kumar, P., Sinha, U., Sinharoy, S.S., Slaymaker, T., Uguru, E., Uhl, K., Young, S.L., Ross, I., and Cumming, O. 2025. ‘Gender equality and quality of life must be central to the design and delivery of sanitation,’ BMJ Global Health. 10(1):e018238. [Gender & ENV]

2024

Salinger, A.P., Charles, I., Francis, N., Batagol, B., Meo-Sewabu, L., Nasir, S., Bass, A., Habsji, H., Malumu, L., Marzaman, L., Prescott, M.F., Sawailau, M.J., Syamsu, S., Taruc, R. R, Tela, A., Vakarewa, I., Wilson, A., and Sinharoy, S.S. 2024. ‘”People are now working together for a common good”: The effect on social capital of participatory design for community-led sanitation-infrastructure in urban informal settlements,’ World Development. 106449. [Water for Women] [ID & IS] ↳Download PDF

Caruso, B.A., Ballard, A.M., Sobolik, J., Patrick, M., Dsouza, J., Sinharoy, S.S., Cumming, O., Wolf, J., and Ray, I. 2024. ‘Systematic re-review of WASH trials to assess women’s engagement in intervention delivery and research activities,’ Nature Water. 2(9):827-36. [ID & IS] [Gender & ENV]

2023

Plesons, M., Torondel, B., Caruso, B. A., Hennegan, J., Sommer, M., Haver, J., Keiser, D., van Eijk, M., Zulaika, G., Mason, L., & Phillips-Howard, P. A. (2023). ‘Research priorities for improving menstrual health across the life-course in low-and middle-income countries,’ Global Health Action. 16(1), 2279396. [Menstrual Health]
Hennegan, J., Caruso, B. A., Torondel, B., Phillips-Howard, P. A., Zulaika, G., Valdez, J., Haver, J., Gruer, C.L., Mahon, T., Sommer, M. (2023). ‘Indicators for National and Global Monitoring of Girls’ Menstrual Health and Hygiene: Development of a Priority Shortlist,’ Journal of Adolescent Health.’ 73(6), 992-1001. [Menstrual Health] [Measurement]
Patrick, M., Hennink, M., Dasmohapatra, M., Rout, M., Clasen, T., & Caruso, B. A. (2023). ‘Influences on water source selection and use among women in rural Odisha, India,’ Frontiers in Water. 5, 7. [Gender & ENV]
Sinharoy, S.S., Chery, L., Patrick, M., Conrad, A., Ramaswamy, A., Stephen, A., Chipungu, J., Reddy, Y.M., Doma, R., Pasricha, S-R., Ahmed, T., Chiwala, C.B., Chakraborti, N., and Caruso, B.A. 2023. ‘Prevalence of heavy menstrual bleeding and associations with physical health and wellbeing in low-income and middle-income countries: a multinational cross-sectional study,’ The Lancet Global Health. 11:e1775-84 [Heavy Menstrual Bleeding] [Menstrual Health] [WASH and Empowerment] [Workplace MHH] [Measurement] ↳Download PDF
Francis, N., Batagol, B., Salinger, A.P., Meo-Sewabu, L., Bass, A., Nasir, S., Moschonas, D., Taruc, R.R., Syamsu, S., Habsji, H., Tela, A., Vakarewa, I., Prescott, M.F., Charles, I., Riu, I., Wilson, A., Sawailau, M.J., Malumu, L., and Sinharoy, S.S. 2023. ‘Key mechanisms of a gender and socially inclusive community engagement and participatory design approach in the RISE program in Makassar, Indonesia and Suva, Fiji. Plos Water. 2(11): e0000186. [Water for Women] [ID & IS] ↳Download PDF
Charles, I., Salinger, A.P., Sweeney, R., Batagol, B., Barker, F. Nasir, S., Taruc, R., Francis, N., Clasen, T., and Sinharoy, S.S. 2023. ‘Joint food and water insecurity had a multiplicative effect on women’s depression in urban informal settlements in Makassar, Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic,’ Journal of Nutrition. 153(4): 1244-1252. [Gender & ENV] ↳Download PDF
Sinharoy, S., McManus, S., Conrad, A., Patrick, M., and Caruso, B.A. 2023. ‘The Agency, Resources, and Institutional Structures for Sanitation-related Empowerment (ARISE) Scales: Development and validation of measures of women’s empowerment in urban sanitation for low-and middle-income countries,’ World Development 164: 106183. [MUSE] [Measurement] ↳Download PDF
Doma, R., Patrick, M., Conrad, A., Ramanarayanan, V., Arun, S., and Sinharoy, S.S. 2023. ‘An exploration of sanitation-related decision-making, leadership, collective action, and freedom of movement among women in urban Tiruchirappalli, India,’ Frontiers in Water 5: 1048772. [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE] ↳Download PDF
Caruso, B.A, Chipungu, J., Kulkarni, S, & Ray, I. (2023). ‘Women, Work, and Water,’ The Lancet. 401 (10383), 1139-1141. [Gender & ENV]

2022

Caruso, B.A., Conrad, A., Patrick, M., Owens, A., Kviten, K., Zarella, O., Rogers, H., and Sinharoy, S.S. 2022. ‘Water, sanitation, and women’s empowerment: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis,’ PLOS Water 1(6): e0000026. [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE] ↳Download PDF
Sinharoy, S.S., Conrad, A., Patrick, M., McManus, S., and Caruso, B.A. 2022. ‘Protocol for development and validation of instruments to measure women’s empowerment in urban sanitation across countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa: the Agency, Resources and Institutional Structures for Sanitation-related Empowerment (ARISE) scales,’ BMJ Open 122: e053104. [WASH and Empowerment] [MUSE] [Measurement]↳Download PDF
Torondel, B., Ferma, J., Francis, S.C., Caruso, B.A., Routray, P., Reese, & Clasen, T. (2022) ‘Effect of a combined household-level piped water and sanitation intervention on reported menstrual hygiene practices and symptoms of urogenital infections in rural Odisha, India,’ International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 239: 113866. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
Dupuis S, Hennink M, Wendt AS, Waid JL, Kalam A, Gabrysch S, Sinharoy SS. ‘Women’s empowerment through homestead food production in rural Bangladesh,’ BMC Public Health. 2022 Jan;22(134). [Gender & ENV]
Waid JL, Wendt AS, Sinharoy SS, Kader A, Gabrysch S. ‘Impact of a homestead food production program on women’s empowerment: Pro-WEAI results from the FAARM trial in Bangladesh,’ World Development. 2022 Oct;(158). [Gender & ENV]
Ballard, A.M., Cooper, H.L.F. Young, A.M., & Caruso, B.A. (2022). ‘”You feel how you look”: Exploring the impacts of unmet water, sanitation, and hygiene needs among rural people experiencing homelessness,’ PLOS Water, 1(5), e0000019. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]

2021 and Prior

Ballard, A.M., Hoover, A.T., Rodriguez, A.V. & Caruso, B.A. (2021). ‘Emphasizing choice and autonomy in personal hygiene, menstrual hygiene, and sexual health product distribution to people experiencing homelessness in Atlanta, Georgia during COVID-19,’ Health Promotion Practice. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
Sommer, M., Torondel, B., Hennegan, J., Phillips-Howard, P.A., Mahon, T., Motivans, A., Zulaika, G., Gruer, C., Haver, J., Monitoring Menstrual Health and Hygiene Group, Caruso, B.A. (2021). ‘How addressing menstrual health and hygiene may enable progress across the Sustainable Development Goals,’ Global Health Action. 14(1). [Menstrual Health]
Plesons, M., Patkar, A., Babb, J., Balapitiya, A., Carson, F., Caruso, B.A., Franco, M., Hansen, M.M., Haver, J., Jahangir, A., Kabiru, C.W., Kisangala, E., Phillips-Howard, P., Sharma, A., Sommer, M., & Chandra-Mouli, V. (2021). ‘The state of adolescent menstrual health in low-and middle-income countries and suggestions for future action and research,’ Reproductive Health. 18(1), 1-13. [Menstrual Health]
Sommer, M., Caruso, B. A., Torondel, B., Warren, E. C., Yamakoshi, B., Haver, J., Long, J., Mahon, T., Nalinponguit, E., Okwaro, N., & Phillips-Howard, P. A. (2021). ‘Menstrual hygiene management in schools: midway progress update on the “MHM in Ten” 2014–2024 global agenda,’ Health Research Policy and Systems. 19(1), 1-14. [Menstrual Health]
Caruso, B. A., Portela, G., McManus, S., & Clasen, T. (2020). ‘Assessing women’s menstruation concerns and experiences in rural India: Development and validation of a menstrual insecurity measure,’ International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17(10), 3468. [Menstrual Health] [Measurement]
Caruso, B. A. and Sinharoy, S.S. 2019. ‘Gender data gaps represent missed opportunities in WASH,’ The Lancet Global Health 7(12) e1617. [Gender & ENV]
Sinharoy, S.S. & Caruso B.A. (2019). ‘On “World Water Day” Gender equality and empowerment require attention,’ The Lancet Planetary Health. 3(5) e202-e203. [Gender & ENV] [WASH and Empowerment]
Caruso, B.A., Sommer, M., Phillips-Howard, P. A. (2019). ‘All of women’s health needs are worthy of attention,’ The Lancet. 393(10186), 2119. [Menstrual Health]
MacRae, E.R., Clasen, T., Daspohapatra, M., & Caruso, B.A. (2019) ‘”It’s like a burden on the head”: Redefining adequate menstrual hygiene management throughout women’s life course in Odisha, India,’ PLoS One. 14(8), e0220114. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
Wilson, E., Haver, J., Torondel, B., Rubli, J., & Caruso, B. A. (2018). ‘Dismantling menstrual taboos to overcome gender inequality,’ The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 2(8), e17. [Menstrual Health]
Haver, J., Long, J., Caruso B.A., & Dreibelbis, R.D. (2018). ‘New directions for assessing MHM in Schools: a bottom-up approach to measuring program success,’ Studies in Social Justice. 12 (2): 372-381. [Menstrual Health]
Caruso, B. A., Cooper, H. L., Haardörfer, R., Hadley, C., Yount, K. M., Routray, P., Torondel, B., & Clasen, T. (2018). ‘The association between women’s sanitation experiences and mental health: A cross–sectional study in rural Odisha India,’ SSM – Population Health. 5, 257-266. [Gender & ENV]
Baker, K. K., Padhi, B., Torondel, B., Das, P., Dutta, A., Sahoo, K. C., Das, B., Dreibelbis, R., Caruso, B.A., Freeman, M.C., Sager, L., & Panigrahi, P. (2017). ‘From menarche to menopause: A population-based assessment of water, sanitation, and hygiene risk factors for reproductive tract infection symptoms over life stages in girls and women in India,’ PLoS One. 12(12), e0188234. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
Caruso, B. A., Clasen, T., Hadley, C., Yount, K., Haardöerfer, R., Rout, M., Daspohapatra, M., & Cooper, H.L.F. (2017). ‘Understanding and defining sanitation insecurity: women’s gendered experiences of urination, defecation and menstruation in rural Odisha, India,’ BMJ Global Health. 2(4), e000414. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
Girod, C., Ellis, A., Andes, K., Freeman, M.C. & Caruso B.A. (2017) ‘Physical, social, and political inequities constraining girls’ menstrual management at schools in informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya,’ Journal of Urban Health. 1-12. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
Sommer, M., Phillips-Howard, P. A., Mahon, T., Zients, S., Jones, M., & Caruso, B. A. (2017). ‘Beyond menstrual hygiene: addressing vaginal bleeding throughout the life course in low and middle-income countries,’ BMJ Global Health. 2(2), e000405. [Menstrual Health]
Caruso, B. A., Clasen, T., Yount, K. M., Cooper, H. L., Hadley, C., & Haardörfer, R. (2017). ‘Assessing women’s negative sanitation experiences and concerns: The development of a novel sanitation insecurity measure. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(7), 755. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
Phillips-Howard, P., Caruso, B. A., Torondel, B., Zulaika, G., Sahin, M., & Sommer, M. (2016). ‘Menstrual hygiene management among adolescent schoolgirls in low- and middle-income countries: research priorities.’ Global Health Action. 9. [Menstrual Health]
Ellis, A., Haver, J., Villasenor, J., Parawan, A., Venkatesh, M., Freeman, M. C., & Caruso, B.A. (2016). ‘WASH challenges to girls’ menstrual hygiene management in Metro Manila, Masbate, and South Central Mindanao, Philippines,’ Waterlines. 35(3), 306-323. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
Sommer, M., Caruso, B. A., Sahin, M., Calderon, T., Cavill, S., Mahon, T., & Phillips-Howard, P. A. (2016). ‘A time for global action: Addressing girls’ menstrual hygiene management needs in schools,’ PLoS Medicine. 13(2), e1001962. [Menstrual Health]
Hulland, K. R., Chase, R. P., Caruso, B.A., Swain, R., Biswal, B., Sahoo, K. C., Panigrahi, P., & Dreibelbis, R. (2015). ‘Sanitation, stress, and life stage: A systematic data collection study among women in Odisha, India,’ PloS One, 10(11), e0141883. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
Sahoo, K. C., Hulland, K. R., Caruso, B.A., Swain, R., Freeman, M. C., Panigrahi, P., & Dreibelbis, R. (2015). ‘Sanitation-related psychosocial stress: A grounded theory study of women across the life-course in Odisha, India,’ Social Science & Medicine. 139, 80-89. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
Long J.L., Caruso B.A., Mamani M, Camacho G, Vancraeynest K, & Freeman, M.C. (2015). ‘Developing games as a qualitative method for researching menstrual hygiene management in rural Bolivia,’ Waterlines. 34(1). [Menstrual Health]
Trinies, V., Caruso, B.A., Sogore, A., Toubkiss, J., & Freeman, M. C. (2015). ‘Uncovering the challenges to menstrual hygiene management in schools in Mali,’ Waterlines, 34(1). doi: 10.3362/1756-3488.2015.004. [Menstrual Health]
Caruso, B. A., Sevilimedu, V., Fung, I. C. H., Patkar, A., & Baker, K. K. (2015). ‘Gender disparities in water, sanitation, and global health,’ The Lancet. 386 (9994), 650-651. [Menstrual Health] [Gender & ENV]
McMahon, S. A., Winch, P. J., Caruso, B. A., Obure, A. F., Ogutu, E. A., Ochari, I. A., & Rheingans, R. D. (2011). ‘”The girl with her period is the one to hang her head” Reflections on menstrual management among schoolgirls in rural Kenya,’ BMC International Health and Human Rights. 11(1), 7. [Menstrual Health]