Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent article (1), such as a diaper, a pants-type diaper, an incontinence guard, a sanitary napkin or like article, comprising an absorbent body (2) of generally elongated shape and having two mutually opposing end-edges (7, 8) and two mutually opposing side edges (9, 10); a liquid-permeable top sheet (3) which is placed on one side of the absorbent body (2) and which is intended to lie proximal to the wearer in use, and a liquid-impermeable bottom sheet (4) placed on the other side of the absorbent body (2). The inventive article is characterized in that longitudinally extending elastic elements (25-28), for instance bands, threads or the like, are mounted across the absorbent body (2) close to respective side-edges (9, 10); and in that the elastic elements are firmly joined to the absorbent body (2) and entrain the body in the regions around the elastic elements (25-28) to form leakage barriers.