Facemask Usage Among Pedestrians in Most Crowded Urban Districts of Kabul, Afghanistan, During the Third COVID-19 Wave: An Observational Study (original) (raw)
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BMC Public Health
Background Many countries have recommended the use of face masks for general population in public places to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of face mask usage and investigate about different types of face mask and their distribution among pedestrians in southwest Iran during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2020 in Ahvaz, southwest Iran. Using a multistage sampling method, a total of 10,440 pedestrians selected from 8 urban districts and 92 neighborhoods of the city. The data gathered by observation method. Percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to describe the variables. Chi-square test, fisher exact test and Chi-square for trend used to assess relationship between two categorical variables. We used unconditional logistic regression model to control confounders. Results The most common age group was 10 to 39 years and 67.9% of the participants were male. The overall prev...
Journal of Research and Health, 2024
Background: Protective behavior is recommended to prevent COVID-19. However, the existing gap is no reliable evidence of protective behavior in southern urban areas in Iran. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of face mask usage and shield use among pedestrians in the Abadan, Khoramshahr, and Shadegan southern cities of Iran. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2021 in the southwestern urban population of Iran. In this study, 7 425 pedestrians were selected from 85 neighborhoods. Sampling was conducted using a multi-stage method. The data were collected by observation passers on the street with a checklist and analyzed by SPSS software, version 26 statistical and WINPEPI software. The acceptable significance level was P<0.05. Results: A total of 55.4% of the subjects were men. The prevalence of face mask usage was 3990(53.8%) (95% CI, 52.7%-55%). The correct use of the face mask and shield were (38.5% and 0.4%), respectively. The use of a face mask was higher in men than women (54.3 vs 53%). Pedestrians under 10 years (39.2%) and over 70 years (44.7%) had the lowest use of the mask. The use of face mask was more in the evening and night (58.1% vs 54.3%), and a significant relationship was observed between the use of the face mask and age (P<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of the use of face mask is relatively low. Therefore, the possibility of controlling the infection may be difficult. Promoting media literacy, emphasizing the perceived benefits of preventative behavior, and setting rules may improve mask use.
Ciencia, Tecnología y Salud
The COVID-19 pandemic has currently affected more than 200 countries and caused around four million cases. Face masks are recommended for preventing the contagion. The Guatemalan government issued a decree for the mandatory use of face masks in public places. In order to find out the frequency of voluntary and mandatory use of face masks by Guatemalans we conducted a case study divided in two episodes (pre and post mandatory use decree) by driving a 27.8 km car transect through 11 of the 22 zones of Guatemala City and observing the use of face mask by pedestrians walking on the sides of the transect. Pedestrians were visually classified by age category (children [< 12 years], juveniles [12-21 years], adults [21-65 years] and elders [> 65 years]) and gender. During the pre-decree observation, we registered 476 individuals using a face mask and 674 not using or using them improperly. During the post-decree observation, we registered 797 individuals using face mask and 211 not u...
Pakistan Journal of Public Health
Background: To determine the frequency of general public compliant to face mask and also to evaluate knowledge and practice of using face mask in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) and National Institute of Health (NIH) guidelines in our community. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. A sample of 190 people was recruited from public areas in Islamabad during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted over a period of two months between November and December 2020. Knowledge and etiquettes of face mask use were evaluated with the help of a self-developed questionnaire based on WHO and NIH guidelines. Statistical tests were applied to understand the association of knowledge with etiquettes and also to see the effects of demographic variables on them. Results: This study revealed that one fourth of the sample population was not wearing face masks in public. More than half were not concerned about COVID-19 pandemic and only one third knew about the ...
Use of facemasks during the covid-19 pandemic in southeastern Nigeria: an observational study
2021
Background The use of facemask for the control of the spread of COVID-19 virus among the population has been recommended by the health authorities. This observational study was carried out to assess the use of facemask in Southeastern Nigeria. Methods Using a two-stage sampling technique, a total of 3100 participants were observed from both rural and urban settings. Frequency distribution tables were used to categories and describe the observed variables, Chi-square (X2) test was used to check for the association between categorical variables. Results Among the observed participants, 46.4% made use of facemask. The most common facemask used was cloth mask (28.6%). About 16.0% of the participants correctly used their facemasks. The highest usage was observed in the urban location (49.2%). A statistically significant association was found between facemask usage and study location (p
Use of facemask during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeastern Nigeria: an observational study
Journal of Public Health and Development
The use of facemask for the control of the spread of the novel corona virus among the population has been recommended by the health authorities. This is as a result of its effectiveness in the control of various infectious respiratory diseases during past epidemics and pandemics. This observational study was carried out to assess the frequency of use, appropriateness of application, type, and the quality of the used facemasks among the residents of southeastern Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic and to be able to draw inference from this observation on whether facemask usage can aid in controlling the spread of the disease in the study area and the country at large. Using a two-stage sampling technique, a total of 3100 individuals were observed for the type, quality, appropriateness, and frequency of facemasks usage from both rural and urban settings in the study area. Frequency distribution tables were used to categorize and describe the observed variables, Chi-square (X2) test w...
Annals of General Psychiatry, 2022
Background: Wearing facemasks is of proven efficacy as a public health protective measure against COVID-19. Currently there are no observational data concerning the wearing of facemasks and the adherence to guidelines concerning their handling. Methods: Registration of the way passers-by were wearing facemasks at 26 different locations of five major cities in Greece. The results were correlated with the rate of COVID-19 deaths in the region. Results: In total, 119,433 passers-by were registered, 57,043 females (47.8%) and 62,390 males (52.2%). From the total sample, 81.1% were wearing the mask properly, 10.8% had their nose out, 6.2% were wearing it under the jaw, and 1.9% had no mask at all. There was a significant difference between males and females concerning any use of mask. Inappropriate use of was correlated with COVID-19 death rate in the studied region. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that under conditions of mandatory wearing and in central locations of major cities, during walking, proper use of masks is suboptimal, but still contributes with some protection. Fear and risk perception seem to be strong factors contributing to adherence to proper mask wearing.
Marmara Medical Journal, 2022
Objective: We aimed to evaluate correct facemask usage prevalence among the general public in marketplaces in Denizli, Turkey and also aimed to determine the effects of the announcement of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and curfew decisions on compliance rates of appropriate mask use. Materials and Methods: In this population-based study, a total of 6749 observations were made in the 8 different marketplaces between 22 November-3 December 2020. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effect of age, gender, observation time, and intervention type (announcement of asymptomatic COVID-19 case numbers and, announcement of nationwide curfew decisions) on correct facemask use prevalence. Results: Correct facemask usage prevalence in customers and sellers was 84.3% and 46.3%, respectively. The announcement of the number of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases had no statistically significant effect on correct facemask usage prevalence both among customers and sellers (p>0.05). After the announcement of the curfew decisions, correct facemask usage prevalence increased among customers (OR:1.24 (1.02-1.52)) and sellers (OR:1.64 (1.32-2.03)). Conclusion: The correct use of facemasks is not sufficient, especially among sellers. The announcement of curfew decisions has increased the correct use of masks although, the announcement of asymptomatic COVID-19 case numbers has no effect.
Journal of Community Medicine and Health Solutions, 2022
Background: For the prevention of respiratory infection similar to the current pandemic COVID-19, face masks are considered an effective method. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly transmittable virus that continues to disrupt livelihoods, particularly those of low-income segments of society, around the world has poor knowledge towards facemask at the same time has huge gape towards attitude which affects the behaviors. Therefore this study was aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice towards facemask use amid the COVID-19 pandemic among public transport drivers in Debre-Tabor town, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 public transport drivers in Debre-Tabor town from July to August 2021. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique after proportionally allocating the sample size from the total number of public transport drivers, and finally, study subjects were elected continuously working in Debre...