COVID-appropriate facemask use: A study among patients attending outpatient Departments of a Public Health Institute in West Bengal
BACKGROUND: In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, facemask use has been the most feasible public health measure in preventing transmission of SARS-CoV2 with the dual benefit of controlling the source of infection and decreasing the risk of acquiring infection from infected people. Therefore, COVID-appro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Education and Health Promotion |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2022;volume=11;issue=1;spage=108;epage=108;aulast=Das |
| _version_ | 1828733261552025600 |
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| author | Arpita Das Biswadip Chattopadhyay Bobby Paul Lina Bandyopadhyay Madhumita Bhattacharyya |
| author_facet | Arpita Das Biswadip Chattopadhyay Bobby Paul Lina Bandyopadhyay Madhumita Bhattacharyya |
| author_sort | Arpita Das |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BACKGROUND: In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, facemask use has been the most feasible public health measure in preventing transmission of SARS-CoV2 with the dual benefit of controlling the source of infection and decreasing the risk of acquiring infection from infected people. Therefore, COVID-appropriate behavior regarding facemask use is imperative for controlling the pandemic. This study aimed to assess COVID-appropriate mask behavior and factors associated with it among the patients attending outpatient departments of a public health institute in West Bengal.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done among 298 patients attending outpatient departments of Rural and Urban Health Units of a public health institute of Kolkata, during October 2020–February 2021. A pretested questionnaire and an observational checklist based on the World Health Organization guidelines were used to collect data. COVID-appropriate mask behavior was assessed by a five-point domain-wise scale, where good practice regarding facemask usage was considered when the score was three or more. Statistical analyses were done in SPSS 16.0.
RESULTS: Good practices regarding COVID-19 appropriate mask-related activities were recorded among 30.2% of the study participants. No difficulties faced during or on wearing a mask (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.86, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.1–3.33) and higher socioeconomic status (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.22–4.15) were significantly associated with good practice regarding COVID-19 appropriate facemask usage.
CONCLUSION: The magnitude of poor practice regarding COVID-appropriate mask-related behaviors is quite high among the study participants. Awareness regarding correct mask handling, storage, hygiene, disposal, and place of wearing from a reliable source would go a long way to curb the myths and misinformation surrounding mask usage and encourage COVID-appropriate mask behaviors among the general population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:26:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-70a67a8a3f864e298eac873dafb499b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2277-9531 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:26:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Education and Health Promotion |
| spelling | doaj.art-70a67a8a3f864e298eac873dafb499b12022-12-22T03:14:08ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Education and Health Promotion2277-95312022-01-0111110810810.4103/jehp.jehp_537_21COVID-appropriate facemask use: A study among patients attending outpatient Departments of a Public Health Institute in West BengalArpita DasBiswadip ChattopadhyayBobby PaulLina BandyopadhyayMadhumita BhattacharyyaBACKGROUND: In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, facemask use has been the most feasible public health measure in preventing transmission of SARS-CoV2 with the dual benefit of controlling the source of infection and decreasing the risk of acquiring infection from infected people. Therefore, COVID-appropriate behavior regarding facemask use is imperative for controlling the pandemic. This study aimed to assess COVID-appropriate mask behavior and factors associated with it among the patients attending outpatient departments of a public health institute in West Bengal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done among 298 patients attending outpatient departments of Rural and Urban Health Units of a public health institute of Kolkata, during October 2020–February 2021. A pretested questionnaire and an observational checklist based on the World Health Organization guidelines were used to collect data. COVID-appropriate mask behavior was assessed by a five-point domain-wise scale, where good practice regarding facemask usage was considered when the score was three or more. Statistical analyses were done in SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: Good practices regarding COVID-19 appropriate mask-related activities were recorded among 30.2% of the study participants. No difficulties faced during or on wearing a mask (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.86, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.1–3.33) and higher socioeconomic status (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.22–4.15) were significantly associated with good practice regarding COVID-19 appropriate facemask usage. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of poor practice regarding COVID-appropriate mask-related behaviors is quite high among the study participants. Awareness regarding correct mask handling, storage, hygiene, disposal, and place of wearing from a reliable source would go a long way to curb the myths and misinformation surrounding mask usage and encourage COVID-appropriate mask behaviors among the general population.http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2022;volume=11;issue=1;spage=108;epage=108;aulast=Dascovid-19 pandemicdisposalfacemaskhealth practicesmask storagen-95 respirators |
| spellingShingle | Arpita Das Biswadip Chattopadhyay Bobby Paul Lina Bandyopadhyay Madhumita Bhattacharyya COVID-appropriate facemask use: A study among patients attending outpatient Departments of a Public Health Institute in West Bengal Journal of Education and Health Promotion covid-19 pandemic disposal facemask health practices mask storage n-95 respirators |
| title | COVID-appropriate facemask use: A study among patients attending outpatient Departments of a Public Health Institute in West Bengal |
| title_full | COVID-appropriate facemask use: A study among patients attending outpatient Departments of a Public Health Institute in West Bengal |
| title_fullStr | COVID-appropriate facemask use: A study among patients attending outpatient Departments of a Public Health Institute in West Bengal |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-appropriate facemask use: A study among patients attending outpatient Departments of a Public Health Institute in West Bengal |
| title_short | COVID-appropriate facemask use: A study among patients attending outpatient Departments of a Public Health Institute in West Bengal |
| title_sort | covid appropriate facemask use a study among patients attending outpatient departments of a public health institute in west bengal |
| topic | covid-19 pandemic disposal facemask health practices mask storage n-95 respirators |
| url | http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2022;volume=11;issue=1;spage=108;epage=108;aulast=Das |
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