Focus Group Transcripts: Venue proprietors and employees

To identify current menstrual hygiene and safety practices and explore views on menstrual disc use during intercourse, we conducted five focus group discussions with 33 employees at venues where sex work takes place in Kisumu, Kenya. Audio recordings were transcribed and uploaded into Dedoose for qualitative analysis. Transcripts were coded using thematic analysis, with codes iteratively refined to identify recurring themes related to menstrual hygiene, menstrual disc acceptability, and workplace safety. A semi-structured guide was developed to discuss key topics as determined by the study objectives, with probes to gain further knowledge. The guide topics focused on menstrual health issues at their facilities, how the women who work there usually manage their menses, concerns of proprietors related to menstrual management, what they think is needed to help women who work there manage menses, knowledge and perceptions of menstrual discs, concerns and perceived barriers related to menstrual disc use among sex workers, what the study can do to assist with overcoming barriers, and in general, and other key issues for sex workers. FGDs were conducted by local Kenyan researchers, experienced in qualitative data collection, who were fluent in English, Dholuo and Kiswahili. Participants provided written informed consent in their preferred language, including explicit request for consent for the use of audio recording. Participants received 500 KES ($3.80) as reimbursement for transport and time. Before proceeding with the discussion, the moderator laid the ground rules for discussion, relating to confidentiality and respect. Participants were assigned identification numbers to maintain anonymity. Through post-discussion debriefings and note review, invsetigators determined that data saturation on key topics had been met after completion of the five planned FGDs.