An absorbent article for absorbing liquid discharge when worn on the crotch region of the body of a user includes a plurality of detection zones for detecting the liquid discharge. Each detection zone is provided by first and second electrically conductive paths that are electrically isolated from one another and arranged so that a liquid discharge between the first and second conductive paths allows electrical current to flow between the first and second conductive paths which is able to be detected to detect the presence of liquid discharge in the respective zone. The plurality of zones are longitudinally distributed with respect to the absorbent article along an absorbent core of the absorbent article, to allow the longitudinal extent of the discharge to be ascertained. The first and second conductive paths are longitudinally spaced from one another. The first and second conductive paths are elongate and are laterally aligned.