The Causal Impact of Sanitary Products on School Absenteeism and Psychosocial Well-Being : Evidence from Western Kenya

Lack of access to sanitation is hindering adolescent girls’ schooling in lower income countries. We measure the causal impact of different sanitary technologies on secondary schoolgirls’ absences and psychosocial well-being in Kenya. We compare a simple, disposable product with a complex, albeit, economically and environmentally sustainable product. Disposable sanitary pads reduced school absenteeism by 7.9 percentage points, and improved self-reported physical well-being (6.2%). The menstrual cup, with slow adoption rate, had no discernible effect on absenteeism, but led to a 10.1% improvement in emotional well-being among a vulnerable group. Improvements in psychosocial well-being tapered off as the benefit stream of disposable products ceased, but remained high in the group that had received a long-lasting product. The trade off between initial effects of an easy-to-adopt disposable product, and delayed, sustained effects of a complex, reusable technology is key consideration for policy cost-effectiveness