A mini-review first published online on March 30, 2026 examines poorly managed absorbent hygiene-product waste in the Global South. The category includes adult-incontinence products alongside disposable diapers and sanitary pads.
Authors affiliated with South African universities examine disposal with household waste, handling outside formal systems and waste left in the environment. They report that the resulting costs remain unevenly documented and call for more studies reflecting local conditions.
This is a literature review, not an adult-diaper performance trial or a survey representing every African country. The paper discloses financial support from Kimberly Clark Corporation; the authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.