An absorbent article was granted a patent. It includes a topsheet, an outer cover and an absorbent core between the topsheet and the outer cover. An absorbent barrier structure is located between the absorbent core and the outer cover. The absorbent barrier structure has a hydrohead value of at least about 10 mBars, a convective air permeability of at least about 10 Darcy/mm and a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 gpsm. The absorbent barrier structure is substantially free of a film. The barrier structure comprises: 1) a first barrier zone located adjacent to a garment-facing surface of the absorbent core and a reservoir zone located between the barrier zone and the outer cover; 2) a second barrier zone located at least partially between the reservoir zone and the outer cover; 3) a dampness management means located between the absorbent barrier structure and the outer cover, or between the reservoir zone and one of the barrier zones. A combination of the absorbent barrier structure and the outer cover has a hydrohead value of at least about 25 mBars, a convective air permeability of at least about 10 Darcy/mm and a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 gpsm.