Empirical data discovered through focus group interviews

Kenya - 2022

156 women interviewed - 4 Locations

Kawangware, Kibera, Rongai, Africa Nazarene University

94.7 % of interviewees personally know women and girls who trade sex for pads.

“Your vagina is your bank. It’s so painful. It’s discouraging. I want to tell men to help girls but not take advantage of girls. Don’t ask for sex.”

“Periods reach every household”

“Can it be mandatory for every child to access a pad?”

“I sometimes share one pad with my sister each menses”

“If the government can give books, can’t they give pads?”

“Can girls have priority over condoms?”

Collection of various hygiene and personal care items displayed on a red surface, including face masks, cotton pads, socks, a sponge, a menstrual pad, and small packages of cotton swabs.

Products used for managing blood:

  • rags, old clothes, blankets

  • mattress filling

  • toilet paper

  • tampons, pads, cotton wool

Go to photo gallery
A presentation slide with the title "Results" and a subtitle summarizing various topics including period basics and knowledge, product summary and availability, periods and public opinion, and religion. The slide has a dark abstract background at the
Slide titled 'Study Objectives' with three objectives listed in bold: 1) Add to literature on period poverty, menstrual equity, feminine dignity; 2) Collect data on the experiences of menstruating girls in a global south country; 3) Propose policy ch
Two survey result posters with questions about first-time period experiences. The first poster asks, 'Did you know what your period was the first time it happened?' with percentages, no (52.3%) and yes (47.7%). The second poster asks, 'How did you le
A product information sheet titled 'Product Summary & Availability' detailing menstrual products used during periods, including old rags, cotton wool, pads, pads with other products, tampons with other products, and other items like bandanas, menstru
A bar graph comparing product availability and missed school or work across four locations: ANU, Rongai, Kibera, and Kawangware. The blue bars represent availability, and the red bars signify missed school or work. The accompanying text explains that
Survey results on condom or pad preferences, showing 80% free pads, 18.6% both, 1.4% neither, 0% condoms, titled 'Periods & Public Opinion'.
Survey results on public opinion about whether the government helps fight against period poverty, with 75.6% saying no, 6.9% saying NGOs help, 3.1% saying sometimes, 11.5% saying yes but of poor quality, and 3.1% saying enough.