Product-access challenges to menstrual health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic among a cohort of adolescent girls and young women in Nairobi, Kenya.
prospective_cohort · Level II
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35692218.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101482 and PMC identifier 9165989.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Access to menstrual hygiene products enables positive health for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Among AGYW in Nairobi, Kenya, this prospective mixed-methods study characterised menstrual health product-access challenges at two time points during the COVID-19 pandemic; assessed trajectories over the pandemic; and examined factors associated with product-access trajectories. Data were collected from an AGYW cohort in August-October 2020 and March-June 2021 (n=591). The prevalence of menstrual health product-access challenges was calculated per timepoint, with trajectories characterizing product-access challenges over time. Logistic regression models examined associations with any product-access challenge throughout the pandemic; multinomial and logistic regressions further assessed factors associated with trajectories. Qualitative data contextualize results. In 2020, 52·0% of AGYW experienced a menstrual health product-access challenge; approximately six months later, this proportion dropped to 30·3%. Product-access challenges during the pandemic were heightened for AGYW with secondary or lower education (aOR=2·40; p<0·001), living with parents (aOR=1·86; p=0·05), not the prime earner (aOR=2·27; p=0·05); and unable to meet their basic needs (aOR=2·25; p<0·001). Between timepoints, 38·0% experienced no product-access challenge and 31·7% resolved, however, 10·2% acquired a challenge and 20·1% experienced sustained challenges. Acquired product-access challenges, compared to no challenges, were concentrated among those living with parents (aOR=3·21; p=0·05); multinomial models further elucidated nuances. Qualitative data indicate deprioritization of menstrual health within household budgets as a contributor. Menstrual health product-access challenges are prevalent among AGYW during the pandemic; barriers were primarily financial. Results may reflect endemic product-access gaps amplified by COVID-specific constraints. Ensuring access to menstrual products is essential to ensure AGYW's health needs. This work was supported, in whole, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation [010481].