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Threats to the health of women and girls vary by country and culture. This article calls attention to a cultural belief and practice in rural western Nepal in which menstruating females are considered “impure” and “untouchable,” and are banished to separate huts during this interval. Most such huts are located away from the main residence and lack doors, windows, heat, and electricity. During confinement, girls and women remain solitary, depend on other women for food and water, have no hygiene products or water for bathing, and are forbidden to urinate or defecate until late evening, when no one can see them. These restrictions compromise physical health, raising risk for diarrhea, dehydration, respiratory and urinary tract infections, hyp…