Kenya - 2022 & 2023 - 402 women & men interviewedOur first field study took place in Kenya. A local group of Kenyan women guided our research team through informal settlements and rural villages across Kenya including Kibera, Rongai, Kawangware, Narok, Kitui, and Kangemi.
The goals were to listen and understand: What are the realities of menstruation?
Products used to manage blood includes: rags, cotton, wool, blankets, newspaper, towels, pads, mattress filling, reusable pads, sitting on holes, oiled animal skins, menstrual cups, and tampons.
“We dig on a hole in the ground inside the house and sit on it to collect blood for sometimes 12 hours”
(Maasai Mara)
“[I] sometimes have to use one pad for two months”
(Kibera)
83.63% said they personally participate or know someone who trades sex for pads.
“Sex for pads is the main reason females participate in transactional sex because pads are the most inaccessible basic need.”
(Kawangware)
39.02% were completely unaware of what was happening when their first period arrived.
23.35% always miss their religious gatherings due to being “unclean”.
90.91% said they think their religious institution should discuss menstruation.
“Your vagina is your bank. It’s so discouraging. I want to tell men to help girls but not take advantage of girls. Don’t ask for sex”