Face Mask Utilization in the Era of COVID-19: Nigeria Experience

Abstract

Background: The use of face masks has been accepted and recommended globally as a tool for COVID-19 protection. The government of Nigeria made wearing of face masks compulsory in public places. However, no evidence has shown user compliance or knowledge. This study investigated the knowledge and utilization of face masks among the Nigerian population.
 Methods: This was a web-based cross-sectional survey conducted from July 2 to August 28, 2020, using a convenience sampling technique. This was in adherence to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guideline of physical/social distancing. Data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results.
 Results: A total of 811 respondents participated in the survey with the mean age of 36.93±12.17 years. Almost all the respondents 91.9% and 94% were aware that face masks can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and should be worn in the public respectively. 95.3% of the participants had used a face mask as a protection against COVID-19. Furthermore, 90.2% used face masks in the public, 53% used it when entering restricted places, 45.5% when with a suspected case and 30.7% used a mask due to fear of arrest/punishment. The majority of respondents used homemade masks (70%) and 71.2% reused their masks, but maintained poor cleaning culture.
 Conclusion: This study demonstrated adequate knowledge and utilization of face masks among the population. The homemade mask was mostly used. However, there was a poor mask cleaning culture among the population. There should be intensive public awareness campaigns through social and mass media on how to clean reusable face masks.

Use of facemasks during the covid-19 pandemic in southeastern Nigeria: an observational study

“…It was also found that the rate of facemasks usage was more in the urban area compared with the rural areas;this is similar toprevious report of more facemask usage in the urban areas [9]. This difference in facemask usage between the rural and the urban residentscould be mostly due to the difference in the socioeconomic statusesof people in the urban and the rural areas.…”

“…The highest rate of facemasks usage/adherence was observed amongst the adolescentsthan people in other age categories. This is in contrast with previous studies which found adults to use facemasks more than adolescents [9,23]. Access to COVID-19 information especially through the internet is more common among the adolescents; this may have played an important role in in uencing the facemasks usage among them [9].…”

“…This may be attributed to atmospheric condition which is usually hot and harsh in the afternoon, and which induces the feeling of discomfort while wearing the facemask. Again, [9], observed that the feeling of hotness as well as di culty in breathing discouraged wearing facemasks always and suggested that more convenient alternatives such as face shield should be should be recommended during the afternoon.…”

“…The fact that the currently approved vaccine does not confer absolute protection against COVID-19 infection means that the population have to rely upon the precautionary guidelines provided by the WHO and the NCDC, including the wearing of facemasks in the public to mitigate the spread of the virus [9].…”

“…The fact that the currently approved vaccine does not confer absolute protection against COVID-19 infection means that the population have to rely upon the precautionary guidelines provided by the WHO and the NCDC, including the wearing of facemasks in the public to mitigate the spread of the virus [9]. Facemasks provide physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment including from his own hands [10].…”