Prevalence and Acceptance of Face Mask Practice among Individuals Visiting Hospital during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 transmission has been established to occur through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. Health agencies have strongly recommended the use of facemask as a precaution from cross-transmission. Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of facemask use among visitors to the hospital. This study also investigated the demographic factors contributing to unacceptable facemask practice. Setting: This prospective observational study was done among hospital visitors to a district specialist hospital during COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Methods: Individuals entering through dedicated entry point were observed for the type, category and practice of wearing personal protective equipment. Inclusion criteria for this study were any individual's ≥ 2 years old entering the treatment facility from selected entry points. Patients were categorized into two groups of acceptable and unacceptable facemask practice. The Pearson chi-square was used to test for differences in investigated variables in the univariate setting and Binary Logistic regression model was used in the multivariate setting. Main Outcome Measure: Prevalence, acceptance practice and odds ratio of unacceptance of facemask use. Results: Among 1652 individuals included in the final analysis, 1574 (96.9%) was observed wearing facemask with 1269 (72.0%) of individuals worn medical-grade facemask. However, among them, only 1397 (88.8%) individuals' facemask practice was acceptable while the reaming 177 (11.2) individuals were perceived with unacceptable facemask practice. Male individuals, Malay ethnic and high risk age group are 1.47 times (Odds Ratio: OR=1.47; 95% CI, 1.06-2.06; p=.023), 2.18 times (OR=2.18; 95% CI, 1.55-3.08; p<.001) and 1.99 times (OR=2.18; 95% CI, 1.42 - 2.77; p<.001) more likely to exhibit unacceptable facemask practice respectively. Conclusion: Extensive use of facemasks coupled with environmental hygiene measures is a public health strategy which can help to mitigate the COVID-19 epidemic impact. However, a targeted comprehensive strategy to improve compliance to proper facemask practice among the high-risk population is needed to achieve maximal protective benefit.

Face mask use among pedestrians during the COVID-19 pandemic in southwest Iran: An observational study on 10440 people

“…In the present study the prevalence of facemask usage was much lower than the rates from Hong Kong study among pedestrians [15], Malaysia study among hospital visitors [16] and Malaysia study on general public at wet markets [17] 94.8%, 96.9% and 99.7% respectively. Similar to our nding observed in Bangkok airport (46%) [18].…”

“…The percentage of acceptable face mask practice in our study was lower than some similar studies. This rates were reported from Malaysia about 95.63% and 88.75% [16,17] and from Hong Kong about 87 % [15] . Besides, we found that the correct practice of face mask use in women was higher than men.…”

“…The most common type of mask in our study was surgical mask (63.8%). The same nding reported by Gunasegaram et al [16,17] and Tam et al [15].This can be questionable because the WHO and CDC did not recommend the use of surgical masks in general population [2,21]. In contrast, they recommended using cloth masks in public setting .This type of masks can be easily manufactured or made at home and reused after washing [22] and it is more affordable than other masks.…”

“…This could be due to the fact that women generally pay more attention to their health status and making healthy behaviors. Conversely, the prevalence rates observed in Malaysia studies showed no difference in both sex [16,17].…”

Adherence Of Facemask During COVID Pandemic Among South Asian Countries-An Observational Study

“…The statistics of Malaysian population with regards to mask adherence was around 97% despite having high number of cases. However, the study showed that vulnerable population do not practice face mask and mortality rate was highest among these groups (18). The present data also revealed that in Indian population, religion, area of residence, employment status and high monthly income were signi cant factors in mask adherence.…”