Mask Using Practice among Bangladeshi Population During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Video-Based Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Although the government of Bangladesh made the use of masks mandatory in public settings during COVID-19, individuals have been reluctant to follow. We intended to know how many people used face masks in public settings during COVID-19. Methodology: This study was conducted in several public settings in Shahbag, an urban sub-district of Dhaka; and Sirajdikhan, a rural sub-district of Munshiganj in Bangladesh on November 2020. A total of 4011 people were identified from the video-graphic data captured from 20 public places for monitoring the use of masks. Finding: More than two-thirds of those observed had no face masks or did not utilize them properly. People in urban regions (43%) used mask more in an appropriate manner than those in rural areas (26%). Females wore masks comparatively more than males (53% vs. 35%, p-value <0.001). People used masks more in the morning than in the afternoon (39% vs. 34%, p-value <0.001). People were seen to use a mask more in hospital areas (60%) than in other places. However, in public transportation stands only one-fourth (25%) of the people wore a mask in an appropriate manner. In binary logistic regression male sex, rural area, public places and time of observation (afternoon) were found as risk factors for not wearing a mask. Interpretation: The general population of both rural and urban areas of Bangladesh is reluctant to wear face masks. Along with the ongoing vaccination campaign, people of Bangladesh need to wear masks for the prevention of COVID-19. Funding: This research has been partially supported by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.