Consumer Health

Despite the increased use of systemic medication, herbal/traditional products are popular among Kenyans and are available through both formal and informal channels. In some instances, herbal/traditional products are perceived as more effective than…

Overcrowding and poor hygiene standards in certain areas of the country have increased the prevalence of cataracts, glaucoma and trachoma, a potentially blinding eye disease caused by bacterial infection. This has led to an increase in demand for OTC…

Inadequate sanitation and hygiene significantly contribute to digestive problems among consumers. Rural areas face even greater challenges in accessing clean water, exacerbating the issue. While some urban regions also contend with these issues,…

Digestive remedies continues to witness value growth in 2023, aided by inflationary-led price increases. An ageing population is also supporting volume sales as older people are more likely to have digestive problems. However, unhealthy diets are…

Consumers are becoming more conscious of the significance of maintaining a balanced diet, recognising that modern lifestyles, characterised by long work hours and frequent dining out, often contribute to unhealthy eating habits. Consequently,…

There is a growing awareness of the significance of a balanced diet and the role that dietary supplements can play in addressing deficiencies. Lifestyle changes, longer work hours and a lack of time for nutritious meal preparation are prompting more…

Climatic and social conditions drive the sale of paediatric dermatologicals products in Nigeria. As well as being more sensitive to environmental factors than adults, children’s lifestyles expose them to conditions that lead to skin problems,…

While overall consumer awareness of skin diseases and infections is increasing in Kenya, there remain areas where stigma persists, creating a reluctance among consumers to seek help. For instance, vaginal antifungals are linked to the stigma of…

On a landscape featuring local and international brands, consumers can access a wide array of choices. Brands like Emzolyn and Exiplon are popular among individuals with lower disposable incomes, while international counterparts, including Benylin,…

A prevalent issue in cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies is the misuse of cough syrups, often through self-medication with OTC products. To address this concern, a regulatory framework has been implemented restricting the distribution of…

The harsh economic environment continued in 2023, challenging retail value sales in Nigeria and bolstering the use of counterfeit options in consumer health. However, barriers to healthcare increased the self-medication trend, driving the sale of OTC…

Consumer health is expected to register healthy current value growth in 2023, although constant value growth is expected to grow only marginally. Kenyans are moving away from seeking healthcare services at hospitals and are keen to self-medicate,…

Analgesics remains the largest category in consumer health in Nigeria. Sales continued to rise in 2023, supported by strong brand positioning and consumer awareness. Other factors driving growth included affordability, widespread availability and a…

Analgesics experienced a rise in unit prices due to inflationary pressure, which pushed up the price of imported medications and locally-produced options. Current value growth accelerated in 2023 as a result of this trend. Brand loyalty remains…

Wound care has been registering positive volume and current value growth rates in 2022 and 2023 as outdoor and physical activities increased again in the post-pandemic period. The relatively long summer season in 2023 also benefitted demand for wound…

As a year earlier, most areas of weight management and wellbeing were recording positive volume and value growth in 2023 as consumers looked to shed the weight gained during lockdown and home seclusion, but also due to increased health consciousness.…

Single vitamins continued to record positive volume and current value growth in 2023. Multivitamins, which offer convenience and economy benefits, also continued to grow in volume and current value terms in 2023. The demand for vitamins spiked during…

Sports nutrition – one of the most dynamic categories in the entire consumer health industry, continued to record strong growth in 2023. The category has been continuing to experience a positive performance, with double-digit current value growth…

As in 2022, sleep aids was registering a slight decline in current value terms as a result of falling in 2023. While prices were still rising during the pandemic (2020, 2021), which, paired with increased volume demand for sleep aids during the…

Having already recorded very dynamic growth in 2022, paediatric cold, cough and allergy remedies continued to register the strongest growth in paediatric consumer health in Germany in 2023, albeit at a much more modest pace. This strong performance…