Use of facemask during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeastern Nigeria: an observational study 10.55131/jphd/2022/200209
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Abstract
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 was used to check the association between categorical variables. Among the observed individuals, 46.4% used facemasks. 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%). More people used facemasks in urban areas (p<0.001), in the bank (p< 0.001), in the morning (p< 0.001) among the males (p< 0.001), and among the adolescents (p< 0.001). The observed rate of facemask usage, however, may not be good enough to protect the population against the spread of COVID-19, therefore adequate sensitization on the need for proper use of facemasks by the public should be prioritized.
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